Shropshire eye care services to start taking new referrals
Two eye treatment sections in Shropshire will begin taking new referrals next month for the first time in over a year.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s ophthalmology department temporarily suspended referrals for glaucoma last year, as well as general and adult squint referrals, in order to clear a backlog and reduce waiting times.
Ophthalmology deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the eye and visual system.
SaTH is now expected to be able to take new glaucoma and general ophthalmology referrals from April 1 after recruiting ophthalmologists.
Adult squint surgery services are also expected to reopen to new patients later this year.
A report to Shropshire clinical commissioning group (CCG), which meets next week, says the reason for the delay is because a new consultant needs additional training.
The CCG will be asked to support SaTH in reopening the services.
In the report to the board, Bethan Emberton, commissioning and redesign lead planned care, said: “After the successful recruitment of staff, redesign of estates, and trails of innovative ways of working, SaTH have proposed a re-opening date of the April 1 for glaucoma and general ophthalmology services.
“Adult squint surgery services will however remain closed.
“This is because the new consultant needs additional training.
“This will take a few months so this particular service may not reopen until the end of 2018.
“SaTH have explored sub contract arrangements for this service but have been unsuccessful.
“SaTH do remain open for orthoptic reviews for adult squint as the majority can be treated with glasses and exercises.”
The report says the ophthalmology service has been under considerable pressure for a number of years, with workforce being one of the challenges.
Dr Prasad Rao, consultant ophthalmologist and clinical director for ophthalmology at SaTH, said: “Leading up to the closure 12 months ago, we had five senior doctor vacancies and we were unable to meet the levels of demand on the service. However, in the last 12 months we have significantly improved the accommodation, which now provides excellent new facilities; and recruited to all but one vacancy, which has provided more capacity to diagnose and treat patients that require hospital eye services.
“This is fantastic news for our patients in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Mid Wales.”
