03 February 2023

FODO Ireland member update – 3 February

This week:

• FODO Ireland calls for action on waiting lists
• COSS fee increase
• Appointments to optical registration board (CORU)
• JCDecaux announces Fighting Blindness as charity partner
• Reducing the rising cost of health-related claims

FODO Ireland calls for action on waiting lists

The latest figures from the HSE show over 22,000 people are waiting for eye care across Ireland. More than 10,000 have been waiting for over a year, and over 6,500 of those are children.

FODO Ireland has called on the HSE and Minister for Health to increase access to local optometry, particularly for children, to help reduce patient waiting times.

The Irish Examiner ran the story, which featured FODO Ireland Chair, Garvan Mulligan. He highlighted that local optical practices are "well able to test children's eyes" but that "the HSE won't pay for us to see children under the age of 12". In addition, the HSE raised concerns about the long-term cost to the State - meaning thousands of children are left untested and untreated for months, if not years.

FODO Ireland has been highlighting the long waiting lists in local areas. Clodagh McGovern, FODO Ireland Board member, spoke on Mid-West Radio and Highland Radio, and our Chair, Garvan, was on Radio Kerry.

COSS fee increase

Stephen Donnelly TD, Minister for Health, is committed to increasing the fees for a standard eye examination under the COSS. In a written response to a question from Colm Burke TD, he said this is a priority for the Department of Health to implement in 2023.

FODO Ireland has been calling for increased fees for patients eligible under COSS and PRSI and has contacted the HSE and Department to take this forward. We will keep members updated with developments.

Appointments to optical registration board (CORU)

CORU has announced that:

• Jillian Flaherty has been elected to the optical registration board as a 'registrant who is engaged in the practice of the profession (dispensing optician)'
• John Paul Odigbo has been elected to the optical registration board as a 'registrant who is engaged in the management of services provided by the profession of optometry'.

An election will be held for the appointment of a 'registrant engaged in the education and training of persons in the practice of the profession of optometry'. The nominees for this position are Matilda Biba and Declan Hovenden.

The ballot closes at 5pm on 20 February. First, read the candidates' biographies.

JCDecaux announces Fighting Blindness as charity partner

Patient-led Irish charity Fighting Blindness, which has a vision to cure blindness, support people living with sight loss and empower patients, has been announced as a charity partner for JCDecaux.

JCDecaux is an outdoor advertising market leader in Ireland. It provides selected charities with access to its portfolio of outdoor formats to raise awareness of issues and encourage support.

Congratulations to Fighting Blindness - we hope this will lead to much greater awareness of eye care across Ireland.

Reducing the rising cost of health-related claims

The government has announced an interdepartmental working group to examine the rising cost of clinical negligence claims in the health system, focusing on high-value claims of over €‎4 million and maternity services.

The group will identify measures to reduce costs and help patients after stressful or difficult incidents in the healthcare system.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: "The most effective way to manage the cost of claims against the HSE is to minimise incidents of avoidable harm."