Hundreds of patients suffered life-changing and irreversible vision loss as a result of a massive backlog in NHS care, a damning study reveals.
Since 2019, clinicians have submitted 551 reports of patient sight loss due to late appointments, of which 219 resulted in “moderate” or “severe” damage.
The opticians’ association called the numbers “incomprehensible” and “absolutely tragic” and warned that hundreds more cases were likely to go unreported.
It is calling on ministers to commit to a national eye health strategy and move up to half of appointments from hospitals to high street clinics so people can get treatment faster.
The latest figures show there are 628,502 people waiting for eye doctor appointments – the second biggest NHS backlog and equivalent to one in 11 patients on an NHS waiting list.
Since 2019, clinicians have submitted 551 reports of patient sight loss due to late appointments, of which 219 resulted in “moderate” or “severe” damage. The Association of Ophthalmologists called the numbers “incomprehensible” and “absolutely tragic” and warned that hundreds more cases were likely to go unreported
Additionally, 27,260 of them waited a year or more for a goal of 18 weeks.
Patients report feeling “abandoned” by the NHS and many fear going blind as a result of the robberies. Some are forced to take on debt to go private.
In a survey of 876 optometrists in the UK, 72 per cent said they had seen a patient in the past six months whose treatment had been delayed by a year or more.
And 43 per cent expressed serious concern about the number of patients they see who may be needlessly lost due to long NHS waiting lists and canceled appointments.
Optometry Today, the journal of the Association of Optometrists, obtained NHS England’s figures under freedom of information laws.
Read more: So much for catching up! NHS waiting list soars to another record high with 7.21 million waiting for routine operations – as cancer delays climb to worst ever levels
According to this, since 2019, 551 reports have been sent to the National Reporting and Events System in connection with loss of sight as a result of procrastination.
Of these reports, 99 incidents dealt with “severe damage” and 120 incidents “moderate damage”.
One report describes a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who lost vision in his left eye after his injection treatment was delayed.
The patient was supposed to get monthly injections, but after three months came to the clinic without an appointment.
Another patient reported that his four-month follow-up appointment was canceled several times.
When they presented one year and four months later, they were diagnosed with total retinal detachment.
Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AoP, said: “We are facing a public health emergency.
“Hospitals are overcrowded and the NHS is collapsing under the plight of patients.
“There are good treatments for common age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, but many hospitals just don’t have the capacity to provide services.
“Optometry is ideally placed to alleviate some of that burden – opticians are already qualified to provide many of the comprehensive services required and are available on every high street, so patients can receive treatment closer to home.
“It is incomprehensible and absolutely tragic that patients in many parts of the country are waiting and losing their sight because of the way eye care is administered.
“With a national eye care strategy, we can take a critical step to improve patient care and outcomes.”
The findings come amid widespread NHS backlogs. The latest figures show there are 628,502 people waiting for eye doctor appointments – the second biggest NHS backlog and equivalent to one in 11 patients on an NHS waiting list. Pictured above, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Steve Barclay meet with staff at St George’s Hospital in London last week
A separate survey by the AoP of 498 members of the public with macular eye disease who required medical treatment in the past two years shows 57 per cent had delayed waiting for an NHS appointment and/or treatment.
Almost half (47 percent) experienced vision loss or deterioration during this time.
Around 41 per cent of patients say they fear losing their sight completely and 30 per cent feel let down by the NHS or authorities.
One interviewee says: “My eyesight got so bad that I went around armed with three different magnifying glasses.
“I was really afraid that the gains I had made over the past few years to preserve my sight would be lost forever.”
Another said: “I haven’t heard a word from the NHS since my optician found the hole and referred me four months ago. The window of success is 6 months.
“I now have to pay £7,500 privately, which means I’m in debt.”
And a third added: “I’m so worried I have to keep calling to get an appointment, aka a cancellation, as appointments haven’t been sent out in over two years.
“It’s so scary to know that prompt treatment is essential to prevent scarring and permanent vision loss, but when you call for an appointment you’re told the next available appointment is months in the future.”
“You feel totally helpless.”
Every day around 300 people are diagnosed with macular disease – the leading cause of sight loss in the UK.
Cathy Yelf, director of the charity Macular Society, said they receive dozens of calls every month from people worried that delays could cause them to lose their sight.
Miss Self said: “People fear the prospect of losing their sight. Those who contact us are those who are actively trying to resolve the issue.
“We have no idea how many people are sitting at home, quietly losing their sight and not caring.
“It is tragic that people lose their sight if there is a treatment that helps to keep their sight longer but is not given in time.
“If the NHS cannot cope with the number of patients, they will need to assess each patient’s risk and find an alternative place for their treatment.
“It can’t wait, it’s an urgent situation and people will lose their sight if they’re not treated properly.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “No one should experience unnecessary sight loss and we are taking steps to improve access to services, including appointing a national clinical director for ophthalmology to oversee the restoration and conversion of services Patients get the care they need.
“We are also investing in the ophthalmology workforce with more apprenticeships in 2022 – and more planned for 2023 – as well as better training for existing staff.
“We have made great progress in clearing the Covid backlog – including those waiting for ophthalmology – with a record 2.1 million diagnostic tests carried out in January.
“Thousands more patients are now being treated faster, and waiting times of 18 months have fallen by almost two-thirds since September 2021.”
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
