Eye operations scheduled in Western area

This weekend hundreds of people in the Western areas of the province will receive eye operations to help vision problems.

Health Minister, Shaun Woodward, said he was committed to ending the misery for hundreds of people waiting for cataract operations.

Under the scheme in the Western Health and Social Services Board area, around 200 cataracts and other eye operations wil be performed in two just days.

The Minister said: "In July, I announced my determination that no patient identified and on a day case waiting list for a cataract or other eye operation, should be waiting more than six months.

"I vowed that I would put patients first. To do this I asked the health service to use all means at its disposal to ensure all unnecessary waiting lists are eliminated. This included making full use of the independent sector, which England has already been doing successfully.

"Patients in England have already benefited from independent providers giving the NHS mobile units for cataract operations and MRI scans. These providers take services to communities who need it most. Now people in Northern Ireland are starting to benefit from the same level of care and choice.

"I am particularly concerned about the numbers of elderly people waiting for months, with little or no sight, for treatment for cataracts and other eye conditions. This situation is completely unnecessary."

The scheme involves the Western Health and Social Services Board and the Birkdale Clinic which is based in England. The Clinic will be sending a team of surgeons and other clinical staff to the Tyrone County Hospital, Omagh, over the weekend and is expected to carry out around 200 cataract operations.

Prior to these operations, up to 400 outpatient consultations will be performed in the Erne Hospital, Enniskillen.

The scheme is one of a number of initiatives which Health Boards throughout Northern Ireland are using to reduce waiting times for patients.

"This initiative highlights the potential for hospitals such as the Tyrone County to provide valuable additional services to local communities. I hope it marks the beginning of real improvements for patients across Northern Ireland who have been waiting too long for treatment," said Mr Woodward.

(SP/MB)