Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has welcomed the announcement that the State Government will inject $23.4 million to help cut the wait for people needing important eye surgery, including 361 people in the Darling Downs regional health area.
Mrs Frecklington said the state-wide blitz will help slash ophthalmology waiting lists for people with vision impairment or debilitating eye conditions.
“In September this year, there were more than 7900 people around Queensland waiting longer than clinically recommended for an initial ophthalmology appointment.
“Locally, within the Darling Downs Hospital & Health Service region (which includes Kingaroy and Nanango) around 361 local residents are waiting,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Queensland Health has engaged ophthalmology service providers in a bid to clear this long wait list.
“Health Minister Lawrence Springborg will be sending letters out soon to eligible local ophthalmology patients to advise them of the good news.
“The Government has accepted proposals from service providers which will mean every ophthalmic patient who had waited longer than clinically recommended will be seen and treated by June 30, 2015.
“Patients will be assessed for a range of vision impairments and debilitating eye conditions, such as cataracts, before receiving medical treatment or surgery if required.”
