Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:27 pm on 22 October 2019.
Minister, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for health on the new eye care measures? The Royal National Institute of Blind People, RNIB Cymru, has expressed its concern at the results of the first three months of data collected since the introduction of new eye care measures. In that time, not a single health board has hit the Welsh Government target. Secondly, all health boards have seen an increase in the number of patients waiting beyond their target dates. And finally, the highest risk patients are waiting beyond targets and longer than is clinically safe. Minister, eyesight is precious. It is unforgivable that people should be at risk of irreversible harm because they are not treated quickly enough. May we have a statement on what action is being taken to ensure people with rapid eyesight loss receive the treatment they need within the specified timescales in Wales?