Written Statement: Improving Eye Care Services

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.