Healthcare costs - not insurance Private Medical Treatment have a medical card

R

roker

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I have been waiting 18 months to see a opthalmologist off my medical card. I am presently attending a private Opthalmologist every 6 months for glaucoma, he says I need my cataract doing which will cost thousands.
Is there any assistance available from the health service etc.?
 
Have you been seen in a public eye clinic yet? The waiting list for clinics for cataract assessment is anywhere from a few months to a couple of years, depending on the hospital.

If you have already been seen in clinic and have been put on the list for surgery then the waiting time for a 1st eye is from about 9 months to 3-4 years, depending on the hospital, your level of vision, age, etc.

If you have been on the waiting list for surgery for over 9 months, you may be offered the procedure under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) where you would have the surgery in a private hospital but paid for by the HSE.

What part of the country are you in?
 
Many people are travelling to Belfast and having the surgery done there - I understand they are re-imbursed by the HSE

I see where one private hospital is advertising: [broken link removed].

I saw an article in a local paper which had a headline " Blind bus heading to Belfast" - a local councillor had arranged overnight accommodation in Belfast and cost of Bus ( paid by the people). However, as your sight is really important I would check this out with your Opthalmologist before making a decision.
 
The Healy Raes have been organising buses of people going up north for ages to get cataracts done, you pay upfront and get reimbursed the bulk of it I think from the HSE. Well worth looking into.
 
Co Galway, I am still waiting for a first appointment
 
Why can we get a cross border payment and not get a payment to do it here instead of travelling to Belfast?
 
As I understand it you have to be referred By a G.P or Consultant that you are attending as a public patient for the cross border scheme . For the treatment abroad scheme you must be referred by a Consultant and is generally for treatments not available here or for patients on very long waiting lists.
 
As I have been waiting 18 months to see a HSE consultant I can hardly get a referal.
 
You need a letter from GP stating you were referred to specialist and a letter from the specialist/Secretary saying how long you are likely to be waiting. This is for the Cross Border Directive scheme.
 
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