Question on the school eye-screening system

QUESTION NOS: 453 & 454

DÁIL QUESTIONS addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr White)
by Deputies
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 03/12/2013
* 453. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting time for follow-up exams from the school eye-screening system can be up to four years; if he will consider using community based optometrists to carry out routine follow-ups from the school eye screening system to help address waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas Pringle T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2013.

* 454. To ask the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the current school eye-screening system methodology sufficiently tests for close vision problems; if his attention has been drawn to the Association of Optometrists Ireland’s 6 Point Vision Check; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas Pringle T.D.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2013.

REPLY.
The Health Service Executive provides a sight testing service as part of the school health screening programme for children of primary school age. The screening service is provided by public health nurses and area medical officers. Children who are identified as requiring treatment or intervention are referred to the HSE ophthalmic service for follow up. Urgent cases are given priority and less urgent cases are dealt with as quickly as possible. In Kerry urgent referrals are seen by the ophthalmic service, on average, within a 1 to 6 week period and routine referrals have an average waiting time of 31 weeks. However, the HSE is continually working to improve the service. The HSE has committed to providing 68,000 treatments in 2013 and it was up to the end of September 2013 4.2% ahead of target with the provision of almost 53,000 treatments to children. I have asked the HSE to provide details of waiting lists and waiting times directly to the Deputies.

The HSE’s National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology aims to move towards the elimination of avoidable sight loss, to re-balance the focus on prevention and early intervention, and to provide equitable access to efficient and high quality care, supports and treatment. A care pathway has been designed in relation to school screening and paediatric ophthalmic services. This includes the expansion of the orthoptic and optometry input into the school screening service. This draft model of care is under consideration by the HSE. In addition, the community ophthalmology services will also be the subject of a review in 2014 in order to ensure that the best possible service is available for patients.

I am not aware of the detail of the Association of Optometrists Ireland’s 6 Point Vision Check. I understand that it is a marketing initiative by some of its members to promote basic eye checks for children.

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