Tipperary councillor joins forces with Cork TD to expand access to cross-border healthcare
A Tipperary councillor has teamed up with a Cork TD to expand access to healthcare treatments in Northern Ireland.
Independent councillor John O’Heney has been running the Sightsaver Bus since 2023, and recently announced the launch of the Sightsaver Train to allow people to travel to Belfast by train to access medical treatments.
Now, Cllr O’Heney has announced that he has teamed up with Cork TD Michael Collins, who also operates a similar service, to ensure that buses can run more regularly to allow even more people to access healthcare.
"This new collaboration will now allow the service to operate more regularly, with each representatives’ patients having access to the others buses and trains, if necessary, thus providing a very regular and efficient service to the North for healthcare needs,” Cllr O’Heney said in a statement.
“Both representatives wish to make clear that this is not a political alliance, but a practical collaboration focused solely on ensuring that individuals in need of medical care can receive it in a timely and efficient manner,” he added.
Michael Collins TD. Photo: Conor Ó Mearáin/Collins
Cllr O’Heney established the Sightsaver Bus in 2023 to bring people from Tipperary to Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast for surgery for cataracts, knee and hip replacements, and more.
Through the Cross Border Directive, people from the Republic of Ireland who are waiting on medical treatments can choose to have them elsewhere in the European Union.
Under the Directive, people will be repaid the cost of what it would have been to have surgery in an Irish public hospital, or the cost of their treatment elsewhere, whatever is less.
Launching the Sightsaver Train, Cllr O’Heney said that anyone who is in need of a medical appointment that they’re currently on a waiting list for, should contact him.
"Many people have availed of the train for ankle consultations, hip consultations and cataract treatments, so please reach out to me if you ever need any assistance in relation to healthcare treatments.
"Don’t be stuck on a waiting list, reach out to me, and you’ll get sent to Belfast straight away,” the independent councillor added.