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People going blind waiting for care, RNIB Cymru says | People going blind waiting for care, RNIB Cymru says |
(about 9 hours later) | |
People are going blind unnecessarily because of "dire capacity problems" in eye clinics, a charity has said. | People are going blind unnecessarily because of "dire capacity problems" in eye clinics, a charity has said. |
The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) said clinics cannot cope with the rise in underlying causes of sight loss, like diabetes and obesity. | The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) said clinics cannot cope with the rise in underlying causes of sight loss, like diabetes and obesity. |
An ageing population and more treatment options have led to a surge in demand, it added. | An ageing population and more treatment options have led to a surge in demand, it added. |
But the Welsh government said RNIB Cymru's report does not reflect the current position of services in Wales. | But the Welsh government said RNIB Cymru's report does not reflect the current position of services in Wales. |
The report's findings are based on interviews with practising specialists in Wales, claiming targets set by the Welsh government mean that priority is given to first appointments. | The report's findings are based on interviews with practising specialists in Wales, claiming targets set by the Welsh government mean that priority is given to first appointments. |
Patients who need follow ups and treatment often have to wait much longer than they should, the charity claims. | Patients who need follow ups and treatment often have to wait much longer than they should, the charity claims. |
The report said: "It is of grave concern that many health boards could not tell us how many patients are waiting to be seen. | The report said: "It is of grave concern that many health boards could not tell us how many patients are waiting to be seen. |
"The bureaucratic systems that are in place mean that patients disappear into a black hole." | "The bureaucratic systems that are in place mean that patients disappear into a black hole." |
Case study | Case study |
Heather Greene, 72, has wet age-related macular degeneration, which is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the UK. | Heather Greene, 72, has wet age-related macular degeneration, which is one of the leading causes of visual impairment in the UK. |
She needs injections every eight week, to help slow the progressive condition. | She needs injections every eight week, to help slow the progressive condition. |
She went 15 weeks without an injection when her regular eye care treatment was cancelled due to staff shortages at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda. | She went 15 weeks without an injection when her regular eye care treatment was cancelled due to staff shortages at Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda. |
Because of the cancellations she saw a marked deterioration in her eyesight. | Because of the cancellations she saw a marked deterioration in her eyesight. |
According to the RNIB Cymru report, her experience is far from unique. | According to the RNIB Cymru report, her experience is far from unique. |
It called for new systems to ensure eye clinics have the appropriate information to prioritise appointments in line with clinical need and not waiting time targets. | It called for new systems to ensure eye clinics have the appropriate information to prioritise appointments in line with clinical need and not waiting time targets. |
It also wants patients to be informed of the risk to their sight if appointments are delayed or cancelled. | It also wants patients to be informed of the risk to their sight if appointments are delayed or cancelled. |
The charity said it made a "very conservative estimate" that 48 people each year in Wales were losing their sight because they were waiting too long for an appointment. | The charity said it made a "very conservative estimate" that 48 people each year in Wales were losing their sight because they were waiting too long for an appointment. |
The estimate is a "best guess" based for the whole of Wale based on figures supplied by one health board. | The estimate is a "best guess" based for the whole of Wale based on figures supplied by one health board. |
But the charity added that the 10 consultant ophthalmologists from six health boards it interviewed all stated that patients are unnecessarily losing their sight while on the waiting lists. | But the charity added that the 10 consultant ophthalmologists from six health boards it interviewed all stated that patients are unnecessarily losing their sight while on the waiting lists. |
Chris Blyth, a consultant who speaks on behalf of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "We recognise the issues raised in the report particularly the risk of patients coming to harm from delayed follow-up appointments." | Chris Blyth, a consultant who speaks on behalf of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, said: "We recognise the issues raised in the report particularly the risk of patients coming to harm from delayed follow-up appointments." |
However, the Welsh government has disputed the charity's findings. | However, the Welsh government has disputed the charity's findings. |
"This report, already more than six months old, does not reflect the current position of services in Wales and is based on a very small survey sample," said a spokesman. | "This report, already more than six months old, does not reflect the current position of services in Wales and is based on a very small survey sample," said a spokesman. |
"The latest figures show the number of people certified as having a visual impairment in Wales has fallen every year for the last five years." | "The latest figures show the number of people certified as having a visual impairment in Wales has fallen every year for the last five years." |
Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the NHS was not failing but was saving the sight of 370 people a year. | |
He said the figure for the number losing their sight produced by the charity had been "plucked out of the air" and that the RNIB had only spoken to a "remarkably small sample" for their report, interviewing 15 people including only two optometrists out of 770 practising in Wales. | |
Mr Gething however added: "We recognise there's more we should expect the NHS to do and there's clearly no room for complacency. | |
"I've raised the issue of eye health care with every health board since my appointment. We do take this very seriously and recognise there's a real challenge in ensuring we make the best use of resources in hospital services and there's more we need to do in primary care as well." |
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