A shortage of nurses at the ophthalmology department at University Hospital Galway has resulted in the suspension of public clinics for the treatment and monitoring of eye diseases.
It is understood that patients who contacted the local health service for regular check-ups at the clinic last week were told that all appointments had been cancelled and clinics could not take place due to the lack of nurses.
The staff shortage follows the retirement of a number of nursing staff. Health service employees who retired earlier this year under the incentivised retirement scheme cannot be replaced due to the ongoing embargo on recruitment in the public sector.
Certain potentially serious eye diseases such as glaucoma have to
be monitored on
a regular basis.
However, consultant ophthalmologists cannot now hold clinics for public patients in Galway as a result of the retirements, said local Fine Gael TD Brian Walsh.
He claimed there was a risk of “adverse patient outcomes” unless the situation was immediately addressed and has called on the Minister for Health to ensure the clinic is adequately re-staffed.
“We have a situation now whereby public patients who require regular appointments at the clinic are being turned away as a consequence of the retirements,” he said.
“This is not acceptable and I have raised the matter directly with Minister Reilly and have asked him to ensure that relevant retired personnel are immediately replaced so that clinics can resume.”
Deputy Walsh said that the Minister has previously acceded to his requests to lift the recruitment moratorium in respect of both theatre nurses at University Hospital Galway and nursing staff at the orthopaedic department at Merlin Park.
“Minister Reilly has previously demonstrated common sense and flexibility in his approach to similar circumstances in Galway when the recruitment embargo has threatened to impact on important services,” said the Fine Gael TD.
“Early intervention can be crucial in detecting and treating degenerative eye disorders and diseases and it is vital that adequate resources be allocated so that the excellent service provided through these clinics can be restored.”
