Zero applicants for Tipperary ophthalmologist role as more than 2,000 children left on waiting lists
A healthcare crisis in Tipperary has reached a “critical point”, according to one local representative.
Since mid-2025, south Tipperary has been left without a consultant ophthalmologist after the previous doctor retired, leading to delays for people seeking eye care appointments, and forcing families with children to drive to Waterford.
Independent councillor John O’Heney has been leading the charge for a new ophthalmologist for the region, successfully petitioning the HSE to make the role in Tipperary a permanent one, as well as upgrading it to a higher-grade consultant medical ophthalmologist role, rather than a community ophthalmologist physician to make the job more attractive to potential applicants.
Now, Cllr O’Heney has confirmed that the latest recruitment drive by the HSE has yielded no applicants whatsoever, meaning the search for a new eye doctor for the region goes on.
“The crisis in eye care for south Tipperary families has reached a critical point,” Cllr O’Heney said.
"The recruitment drive, which closed in December, received zero applicants. This is an unacceptable situation for our community. We are left without a permanent consultant, directly impacting hundreds of vulnerable patients.”
Local independent TD Mattie McGrath also called for immediate measures to address the “failure” to recruit someone for the role, saying that the situation is worrying.
"This is an unacceptable and deeply worrying situation. Patients in south Tipperary are being left without access to essential eye care because the HSE cannot fill this critical post,” Deputy McGrath said.
"The fact that there were zero applicants for the latest recruitment campaign is beyond alarming and is a crisis that demands urgent action,” he added.
In a letter to Deputy McGrath from the HSE, seen by the Irish Independent, the HSE acknowledges the “severity” of the situation, and added that they are taking all possible measures to hire somebody.
"The HSE is now engaging with private service contractors. While these contractors are also facing challenges in recruiting qualified specialists, the HSE remains committed to utilising contractual supports to manage service pressures across south Tipperary,” they said.
"Over 2,300 children are on waiting lists for essential eye care and treatment. This is causing huge stress and cost for local families forced to seek private care,” he said.
"We successfully fought to have this position upgraded and made permanent, but the HSE must now urgently address why this post is unattractive to candidates,” the independent councillor added.
A previous recruitment campaign saw an applicant appointed to the role, but the person subsequently had to decline the role due to personal reasons before the start date of their contract.
Calling on the Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and the HSE to implement an emergency plan, Cllr O’Heney said patients and families in Tipperary deserve better.
"I am demanding immediate action from the Minister and the HSE to implement a crisis plan. South Tipperary families deserve access to local, timely eye care.”