Eye checks are out of sight for 500 local children

NEARLY 500 schoolchildren in areas from Williamstown to Tuam and from Dunmore to Corofin are waiting for an appointment with an eye consultant – a post which has been vacant since the end of 2014.
There hasn’t been a full-time Community Ophthalmologist at Tuam Health Centre since December 2014 and while the post was filled on a temporary basis for a time last year, progress on filling it permanently is only beginning now.
Tuam MDC Cllr Donagh Killilea says he’s aware of children who’ve been left waiting for six to 12 months just to get a referral letter and have no idea when they’ll be seen by the specialist.
The FF councillor says it’s ridiculous that parents have had to resort to seeking “political intervention” for children to be seen by a consultant because they are so worried about their eyesight.

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