Cork TD planning extra Cork to Belfast cataract bus trips before funds are cut

The West Cork TD who has been organising a bus service to bring cataract sufferers to Belfast for surgery since 2017 is planning multiple trips between now and the end of August. This is in advance of a HSE cut from September 1 in the reimbursement to patients.

Michael Collins told The Echo that he was in contact with the clinics in Belfast to get extra spots for Cork patients.

The lower reimbursement had been planned to come into effect on July 1, but after the matter was highlighted in The Echo and raised in the Dáil by Mr Collins, it was deferred until September 1.

In response to queries from The Echo last week, a spokesperson for the HSE said: “The HSE Health Pricing Office (HPO) costs the price for acute hospital procedures by reviewing activity data and using an international classification system.

“The HSE’s Overseas Treatment Schemes office uses this HPO price list for hospital procedures done overseas and in Northern Ireland.

“The HSE had not updated the pricing of procedures for the last few years.

“This was due to the interruption of covid, coupled with the reclassification of certain cataract procedures, following the international coding system, in which some prices have increased and some have decreased.

“HPO prices for cataracts were due to change, effective from July 1, 2024. In order to ensure no one is disadvantaged and communicate fully with service users, treating consultants and providers, the HSE is deferring these cost changes until 1st September 2024. During this time, we will communicate with providers in Northern Ireland and patients to advise them of the amended prices for cataract procedures.” While it was originally planned to cut the reimbursement from €1,950 to €863, it will now be €1,173.

Mr Collins said that he had been in touch with the Department of Health to say that the slighter reduction, to €1,173, was still unacceptable.

“Drop it on the basis that you can offer cataract surgery in County Cork, otherwise leave it as it is,” said Mr Collins.

The TD said that the service would continue to run each Saturday until the end of August and he was planning for daily services on August 24, August 25, and August 26 to beat the September 1 deadline.

“People were happy to deal with a shortfall of €500-600, but this means they will have to come up with an extra €800 and that’s too much. Some of these people don’t have that kind of money and they will go blind as a result,” said Mr Collins.

Further clarification has been sought from the HSE on the number of people in Cork awaiting cataract surgery and the grounds for the reduction of the proposed reimbursement.