Cllr John O’Heney is highlighting that HSE Ophthalmology Services in South Tipperary are disrupted since the retirement of Dr. Hillary last year. The Independent Councillor says it is a growing source of frustration and simply unacceptable that children and families are being left without access to essential eye care services.
The councillor highlights the case of a family faced with considerable expense to secure eye tests and glasses for their child. The Councillor is also concerned about referrals from public health nurses conducting developmental checks being left un attended will create a backlog that will only get worse. Cllr O’Heney describes the situation as
”a crisis that cannot be ignored. Early detection and treatment of vision problems are crucial for a child’s development and education, yet the system is failing them.”
In a statement to Tipp Mid West Radio the HSE confirms that the Community Ophthalmologist Physician post serving the Tipperary South area became vacant in October, 2025. The post is now to be regraded to a position of a Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist in line with the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology Model of Eye Care and the Modernised Eye Care Pathway.
The HSE says a process is currently underway to fill this post and acknowledges the impact on service users (for both children and adults) in the meantime. Whilst the recruitment process is ongoing, the HSE is exploring all options to enable ophthalmology services to resume on an interim level in Tipperary South.
For urgent eye care issues, patients from the Tipperary South area may be referred to the Eye Service via the Emergency Department pathway at University Hospital Waterford.
