Cabinet Secretary, the HIW report focused primarily on wet age-related macular degeneration services, but the problems highlighted reflect wider problems with ophthalmology services in Wales. Waiting lists for ophthalmology are excessively high. RNIB Cymru have repeatedly highlighted that patients are going blind whilst waiting for treatment. Every time the RNIB raise this issue, they’re told that the RNIB’s views do not reflect the current position of services in Wales.

The latest waiting times figures show that the average waiting time for cataract surgery is 115 days—twice as long as in England. That’s the current situation, and when you combine this with the fact that many ophthalmologists are having to rely on posting photos of retinopathy because the IT systems are not up to scratch, you can see why the RNIB make such claims.

Cabinet Secretary, what is your Government going to do to ensure ophthalmology services in Wales meet the needs of the constituents?