June 22, 2023 - 1323 views
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders MS has spoken out about the deteriorating waiting times for ophthalmology appointments at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Ophthalmology is where doctors care for patients with eye conditions. They diagnose, treat and prevent disorders of the eyes and visual system.
According to the latest data, the total number of patient pathways waiting for an outpatient appointment and assessed as Health Risk Factor R1, which means that there is a risk of irreversible harm or significant patient adverse outcome if target date is missed, has increased from 28,886 in October 2019 to 39,003 in April 2023.
Over the same time period, the percentage of patient pathways waiting within target date or within 25% beyond target date for an outpatient appointment has fallen from 64.4% to 38.2%.
Commenting on the waiting times for eye care in North Wales, Mrs. Finch Saunders said: “Betsi Cadwaladr is yet again the worst performing Health Board throughout Wales.
“There is genuine health care inequality in this country when our Health Board has over double the amount of patient pathways awaiting an appointment at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
“Whilst in the capital around 60% are seen within the target date, or 25% beyond that, the figure is less than 40% here in the North.
“What this means is that constituents in Aberconwy are more likely to be waiting longer for appointments than residents elsewhere in Wales.
“The postcode lottery for hospital eye care must be stopped and Betsi Cadwaladr come forward with a clear plan to more effectively manage the deteriorating waiting list.”
