Over 65,000 people at risk of going blind face long waiting lists in Wales

Under Welsh government targets, people classified as having the highest risk of going blind should be seen no later than 25 per cent beyond their target appointment date, meaning a patient given an eight week maximum waiting time target should be seen within ten weeks.

However, recent figures show that in April, none of Wales’ health boards hit the 95 per cent target, with the backlog growing due to the coronavirus pandemic and 65,550 patients waiting too long to be seen.

In April, 54.7 per cent of patients most at risk of going blind were waiting too long for appointments, up from 35.8 per cent in the previous year.

Director of RNIB Cymru, Ansley Workman, said the news of the increase in cancelled and delayed appointments was “really concerning” and called for there to be clearer communication between health boards and patients.

Ms Workman went on to say “Patients are waiting, and therefore they may be at risk of sight loss, that is unnecessary.

“We often find that people get diagnosis of sight loss – and it has a huge emotional impact and they don’t know where to go – they don’t know how to move on with their lives.”

A spokesperson from the Welsh government said “We are working with the NHS to understand what additional requirements may be needed to support eye care delivery for the future.

“Anyone who is worried about their eye health should contact their optometrist who will provide appropriate advice and examine those who require urgent or essential eye care.

“Health boards have also established help lines if people feel their conditions have changed.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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