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Care Opinion

Unable to get cataracts removed

Posted By apuspd73

"Unable to get cataracts removed"

About: Gartnavel General Hospital / Ophthalmology (eye problems) (Ward 1c) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow / Ophthalmology

(as the patient),

I have had cataracts forming in my eyes over a number of months. I am currently without sight in one eye due to a cataract and am starting to lose vision  in my other eye. My health board has told me that I am on a waiting list to receive treatment but there is no timescale for this as the surgery is considered low priority. I am about to go completely blind and getting no support.

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 05/01/2022 at 15:44
Published on Care Opinion at 15:44

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear apuspd73

Thank you for getting in touch via Care Opinion.

COVID-19 has presented a hugely challenging time for the NHS. Following instruction from the Scottish Government to postpone elective and non-urgent services, the Health Board quickly responded to ensure the health and safety of both patients and staff. Remobilising these services, with improvements in the way we deliver care, is the top priority for the Health Board. Getting this right for our patients and staff is absolutely vital, and we fully recognise the urgency of this given the impact delays in treatment can have on quality of life. It will, however, take time for all services to be operating at their full capacity once again. There are logistical issues to be considered, and the service was, and continues to be, under significant pressures due to an increased demand for emergency and elective surgery. Teams are working as flexibly as possible to try to maintain prompt access for all patients.

At present the waiting time for cataract surgery is in excess of one year due to successive and prolonged service interruptions over the past 21 months. We are sorry that we cannot be more precise in how long you may have to wait and we will be in touch with patients as soon as an appointment date becomes available.

As a Health Board, we are in no doubt of the impact that delays to surgery and procedures have on patients’ health and wellbeing. Whilst waiting times are much longer than we would like them to be I would seek to assure you that we are working extremely hard to reduce these times. We are currently looking at plans for increasing theatre sessions which will consequently allow us to be able to further expand the range of operations we can offer.

I appreciate this response will be disappointing and I apologise for this. If you would like us to look into this further can you please contact our Complaints Team on 0141 201 4500 or email complaints@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

As you have mentioned that your eyesight is deteriorating may I suggest contacting your GP or Optometrist for advice?

Kind Regards

Nicole

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