4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Future approach to optometry services

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:44 pm on 21 September 2021.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 3:44, 21 September 2021

Diolch yn fawr, Russell. It is true, of course, that there has undoubtedly been a reduction in terms of the number of eye tests carried out. That is not surprising in light of the fact that actually for lots of months of the year lots of society was closed down. What I'm acutely aware of is that there is huge pressure on our NHS services at the moment and particularly in our hospitals. So, what this approach is trying to do is to make sure that we can divert people away from hospitals. We have people who are highly skilled, who are in place within our communities, who are able to provide the service that previously was provided in hospitals, and we think that we can divert around 30,000 people, a third of the people who would otherwise have been referred into hospitals, through this mechanism. So, we are happy that that is the case. The fact that we've trained more people and that HEIW will be looking at how we're going to be training even more in this space will help us to meet what you are very keen to see, which is making sure that those appointments that have been missed are reinstated because we're able to do that. So, I'm very pleased that that will be happening.

In relation to the regional partnership boards, I think the space here, I think there are real issues in relation to cataracts—you'll be aware that there are very long waiting lists for cataracts. And one of the things that we are looking at is the development of regional cataract centres so that we can get high volumes of people through these cataract centres in a short space of time. We've asked health boards to work together and to come up with proposals in this space, so hopefully, we'll be able to give some further news on that once those have been tested and made sure that they are absolutely in the right place.

When it comes to urgent eye issues, I think you're absolutely right, there are lots of conditions where, if you don't deal with them immediately, people lose their sight. And that's why there is a very clear process for determining who goes first when it comes to people being seen in relation to any issues with eyes. It is a clinical decision, it's based on a clinical model and it makes sure that those who are likely to lose their sight, if they don't get the attention they need, are put to the front of the queue. So, I hope you'll be reassured by that.