Brexit threat to sightsaving ops
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BREXIT could axe a vital lifeline to the sick and elderly left suffering on hospital waiting lists.
The battle is on to ensure those with chronic eye problems can have their sight saved through a crossborder agreement that lets thousands of Irish patients travel to the UK for surgery.
A spokesman for the HSE told the Irish Mirror last night “it is not possible to be definitive” about the post-brexit arrangements.
Independent TD Michael Collins urged the Government to save the Cross Border Healthcare Directive. He said: “It would be absolutely catastrophic if this were to go.
“We need an agreement in place to keep this going. If this ends there will be a crisis for patients.”
He insisted patients in his West Cork constituency are going blind while they wait up to five years for cataracts surgery.
Mr Collins arranges a bus to ferry patients to Belfast where they can pay for the surgery and get a full refund from the HSE.
Since it was set up in 2014, €15million has been spent on treating 5,400 patients. This year alone, 2,200 people have used the scheme
Mr Collins said: “I am asking the Government to make sure this is part of the talks.
“It is already a scandal that people have to wait so long. No one should have to go up North in the first place.
“But this is one way we have found to save people waiting.” A HSE spokesman said: “How and if access to healthcare in the UK post-brexit will be achieved is the subject of EU/ UK negotiations.
“It is not possible to be definitive at this time. Patients will be able to use the provisions of the CBD in the other EU/ EEA countries.”
The Department of Health said it is working on a contingency plan for “Brexit”.
A spokesman said: “Technical discussions, involving the Departments of Health from Ireland, the North and the UK on how to maintain these arrangements post-brexit, are currently ongoing.”
Explaining how the scheme works Mr Collins said: “The patient pays to have the procedure done in Belfast and with their hospital receipt they can claim a full reimbursement.
“It takes three months for the refund to come through.
“A lot of people do not have this cash up-front, some of the eye operations are over €2,000 but the likes of the knee replacements could be €10,000.
“The Credit Union in my constituency said it is such a serious problem they will offer anyone who comes to them in this situation a bridging loan until the refund comes through.”
We need an agreement in place. If this ends there will be a crisis michael COLLINS TD YESTERDAY