The retirement of an ophthalmologist has left HSE services in Clonmel in chaos according to a Tipperary TD.
Deputy Martin Browne says the lack of a replacement has led to the suspension of services provided at the community eye clinic on the Western Road.
The Cashel Sinn Féin TD says its troubling that a single retirement can result in the cancellation of ophthalmology for medical card holders and school children.
“We’re back at the same situation again of no planning being done. This was announced in October and we had a backlog even before the retirement but now it’s just building up and building up. And even to bring in someone now the situation is going to be horrific for young children and school going children that have eye problems. We’re looking at this all across the board in the HSE and the recruitment embargo hasn’t helped.”
Deputy Browne says the cancellation of the HSE’s ophthalmology clinics in Clonmel will have a huge impact on children into the future.
“With young children if you don’t correct their eyesight at an early age it leads to further problems down the line, it leads to more expense down the line.
It’s just an absolute unbelievable crazy situation. This retirement had been known about but nothing seems to have been done to replace the person. We’re in a situation now that young children are now being left on a waiting list that’s building up and building up and unfortunately there’s a lot of children that will have to struggle for the next couple of years while that backlog is being worked through.”
