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Hospital waits hit eye patients Hospital waits hit eye patients
(about 2 hours later)
Patients with chronic eye complaints are going blind and other conditions are worsening because of new patient waiting time targets, doctors claim. Patients with chronic eye complaints are going blind because of new patient waiting time targets, doctors have claimed.
The Welsh Assembly Government wants all new patients in Wales to be seen within 26 weeks of referral by December.The Welsh Assembly Government wants all new patients in Wales to be seen within 26 weeks of referral by December.
But doctors say it means those already in the system get appointments moved in order for new patients to be seen. But medics say it means those already in the system get appointments moved in order for new patients to be seen.
The assembly government said its targets were developed in close consultation with health professionals.The assembly government said its targets were developed in close consultation with health professionals.
Patients who have chronic eye conditions such as glaucoma need to be seen regularly at hospital to stop their condition worsening.Patients who have chronic eye conditions such as glaucoma need to be seen regularly at hospital to stop their condition worsening.
We have some very clear anecdotal evidence of patients who have already suffered irreversible sight loss as a result of delayed appointments Consultant Nick HawksworthWe have some very clear anecdotal evidence of patients who have already suffered irreversible sight loss as a result of delayed appointments Consultant Nick Hawksworth
But doctors have told the BBC's Eye on Wales programme that there is anecdotal evidence that some patients in Wales are going blind because targets mean their appointments are being postponed or moved to accommodate new patients.But doctors have told the BBC's Eye on Wales programme that there is anecdotal evidence that some patients in Wales are going blind because targets mean their appointments are being postponed or moved to accommodate new patients.
Consultant Nick Hawksworth, who is also the council member for Wales for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "There's a big drive on at the moment for hospital trusts to meet targets, in particular for new patients," he said. Consultant Nick Hawksworth, who is also the council member for Wales for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "There's a big drive on at the moment for hospital trusts to meet targets, in particular for new patients."
"Unfortunately it has had something of an adverse effect in that many follow up patients are disadvantaged and appointments have been moved in order to make place for new patients. "Unfortunately it has had something of an adverse effect in that many follow-up patients are disadvantaged and appointments have been moved in order to make place for new patients.
"Within Wales we have some very clear anecdotal evidence of patients who have already suffered irreversible sight loss as a result of delayed appointments."Within Wales we have some very clear anecdotal evidence of patients who have already suffered irreversible sight loss as a result of delayed appointments.
"What is in effect clinical judgement is being over-ridden by the political imperative to meet targets for the new patients coming in.""What is in effect clinical judgement is being over-ridden by the political imperative to meet targets for the new patients coming in."
Target timesTarget times
The assembly government's targets were set as part of an initiative called Access 2009 and figures show hospitals are making good progress at hitting those targets.The assembly government's targets were set as part of an initiative called Access 2009 and figures show hospitals are making good progress at hitting those targets.
But some doctors believe that the pressure to deliver on waiting time targets is causing problems for many patients. But some doctors believe the pressure to deliver on waiting time targets is causing problems for many patients.
Jonathan Osborne, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and vice-chairman of the Welsh council of the British Medical Association said: "All specialities have particular conditions that do require fairly close monitoring and follow up and those patients are undoubtedly suffering. Jonathan Osborne, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and vice-chairman of the Welsh Council of the British Medical Association said: "All specialities have particular conditions that do require fairly close monitoring and follow up and those patients are undoubtedly suffering.
"There are conditions such as glaucoma - where patients go blind on a silent basis - and pre-malignant conditions where we're observing people who may develop malignancy where this could be extremely serious.""There are conditions such as glaucoma - where patients go blind on a silent basis - and pre-malignant conditions where we're observing people who may develop malignancy where this could be extremely serious."
Re-think rulesRe-think rules
He urged Welsh health minister, Edwina Hart, to re-think the way targets were applied. He urged Welsh health minister Edwina Hart to re-think.
"We'd like to see targets to be simpler. We'd like to see some of the rules relaxed - 90% of 95% compliance is probably better than expensively chasing those last few numbers," he said. "There's a whole army of people employed by the NHS - not in frontline clinical care - merely monitoring the targets," he said.
"And we'd like the administration of these targets to be simplified.
"There's a whole army of people employed by the NHS - not in frontline clinical care - merely monitoring the targets.
"That is activity that does not benefit patients in any way.""That is activity that does not benefit patients in any way."
A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government told the programme that it was its position that "patients should be treated in order of clinical priority." A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said "patients should be treated in order of clinical priority".
"Our targets have been developed in close consultation with health professionals to ensure that patients receive the appropriate care and treatment within reasonable waiting times."Our targets have been developed in close consultation with health professionals to ensure that patients receive the appropriate care and treatment within reasonable waiting times.
"Clinicians will continue to have absolute flexibility in determining their priorities within the targets so patients are treated when needed.""Clinicians will continue to have absolute flexibility in determining their priorities within the targets so patients are treated when needed."
  • Eye on Wales is broadcast on BBC Radio Wales at 1832 BST on Monday.
  • Eye on Wales is broadcast on BBC Radio Wales at 1832 BST on Monday.