Girl, 5, waits 18 months for eye surgery
A FIVE-year-old girl has been waiting 18 months for an eye operation that could save her failing vision - with no appointment in sight.
Aaliyah Otis, of Smithfield, is in dire need of corrective eye surgery to prevent her from becoming blind.
Her mother Dominique, who is a single mum, said she had been left with no option other than waiting for an operation at Cairns Base Hospital, as private health care was too expensive.
Aaliyah has been waiting since June 2008.
"I'm quite disgusted at the health system," Ms Otis said.
"I work within the health industry myself, so I know that this should have happened a lot quicker."
To make things worse, Ms Otis's father Jim, 62, has also been left waiting a long time for outpatient surgery at the hospital to have a hernia removed.
He has been waiting since May 2006.
Mr Otis said he did not care whether he was forced to wait longer, as long as it meant his granddaughter was able to receive her operation before him.
"I'm concerned she might sustain permanent damage if nothing's done about it soon," he said.
"If they never get around to mine, just doing hers would make me very happy."
Aaliyah, who loves watching Spongebob Squarepants on television, wants to grow up to become a nurse.
However, Ms Otis said her daughter was starting to struggle in school because of her deteriorating vision.
"She's been struggling while at primary school, even with the glasses she's got," she said.
"It’s really hard for her to concentrate."
Cairns Health District CEO Julie Hartley-Jones said the hospital would check Aaliyah's booking and contact the family directly to clarify the situation for them.
"All elective surgery patients are categorised by medical staff according to the urgency of their need for treatment," Ms Hartley-Jones said.
"All patients awaiting elective surgery are also advised to maintain contact with their GP.
"If a patient feels their condition has deteriorated, they need to consult with their GP or referring doctor."
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Still waiting: Jim Otis, 62, who has been waiting since May 2006 for a hernia operation and his granddaughter Aaliyah Otis who has been waiting for eye surgery for 18 months. Picture: MARC McCORMACK
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