MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Health and Social Care: Sight loss can – and is – having a
profound effect on the wellbeing of people in
Wales. The Time to Focus
report illustrates the personal impact and wider costs of sight
loss. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) estimates
nearly one in five people will experience permanent sight loss in
their lifetime – in Wales, that means an estimated 3.5% of the
population are living with sight loss, which impacts their daily
lives.
Demand for eye care services is set to increase significantly
over the next 10 years as the population continues ages. This
will continue to challenge timely access to specialist eye care
services if NHS service do not respond and evolve. We must
transform the way services are delivered to ensure they are
sustainable and fit for the future.
On 14 October, I held a Ministerial summit to discuss improving
access to eye care services; preventing sight loss and
irreversible harm, and to set out expectations for health boards.
It was attended by representatives from health boards and special
health authorities, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, NHS
Executive, and third sector.
It focused on addressing the barriers to service improvements;
the integration of primary care optometry services to reduce
waiting lists; regional working across major sub-specialties,
including glaucoma, cataracts and medical retina; pathway
development and improvement, and digital transformation.
To coincide with the event the NHS Wales Executive published its
clinically-led blueprint for the delivery of ophthalmology
services across Wales, the National Clinical Strategy
for Ophthalmology, which was commissioned by Welsh
Government.
This sets out four strategic elements:
- Organisational reform – maximise the workforce
- Clinical networks – to provide equality of care
- Pathway transformation – improve end-to-end pathways and
patient experience
- Sustainable delivery model – work across health board
boundaries both organisationally and physically.
I welcome the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology and
look forward to seeing the progress being made at pace through
the Ophthalmology Clinical Implementation Network and the NHS
Executive.
I am clear that health boards need to implement local and
regional plans to manage the demand for eye care services,
addressing those with high clinical risk as a priority with
effective integration and use of primary and community care
optometrists. The need for improved and consistent health board
performance to ensure equal levels of care for people across
Wales is essential. Health boards must address inefficiencies
within the system, working collaboratively and regionally across
high volume areas of the service to achieve this.
I am publishing the Ministerial summit
report and expect health boards to work collaboratively
across primary and secondary eye care teams, with each other, the
NHS Executive and third sector partners to deliver the agreed
actions.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members
informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or
to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be
happy to do so.
