Conservative politicians in Wales have issued a stark warning of an impending “tidal wave of blindness” and are urgently calling for action to address the pressing issue of eye care in the country. The demand for action on eye care was recently put forth by the Welsh Tories in response to the alarming statistics highlighting the imminent risk of irreversible sight loss facing over 80,000 individuals in Wales. According to Sam Rowlands, the Conservative shadow health secretary, eye care currently represents a significant portion of patient waiting lists in Wales, with one in every eight patients awaiting treatment related to eye conditions.
During a session in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands drew attention to the concerning trend of an increasing number of ophthalmology patients exceeding wait-time targets, a figure that has doubled over the past five years. He further emphasised the projected surge of up to 40% in the demand for eye care services over the next two decades, which will place considerable strain on the already stretched healthcare system. In particular, Mr Rowlands highlighted the challenges faced by approximately 69,000 individuals in Wales affected by diabetic retinopathy, citing a Swansea consultant’s observations on the overwhelming pace at which clinics are filling up in comparison to available staffing levels.
Mr Rowlands led discussions within the Conservative party, stressing the critical nature of timely treatment in preventing irreversible vision impairment. He stressed that delayed treatments are pushing the situation to a crisis point and called for immediate investments by the Welsh Government to prevent the potential collapse of eye care services. The proposed motion by Mr Rowlands urged the Welsh ministers to establish clear targets for reducing waiting list backlogs, aligning with recommendations outlined in the national clinical strategy for ophthalmology.
Furthermore, Mr Rowlands advocated for Welsh patients to have the option to undergo surgeries in England, where waiting times are significantly shorter. He criticised the Labour party for stepping back from their commitment to cross-border NHS cooperation to address waiting lists, despite acknowledging the urgency of the situation. Russell George, the Conservative chair of the Senedd’s health committee, echoed concerns about the capacity issues plaguing Welsh eye care services and questioned the reluctance of NHS Wales to utilise Shropshire’s resources due to financial constraints.
Mabon ap Gwynfor echoed the sentiment, expressing worries about the critical state of eye care services in Wales and citing the Royal College of Ophthalmology’s description of the current strategy as the last opportunity to address the looming crisis. Plaid Cymru’s shadow health secretary also voiced concerns, pointing out the high number of individuals in north Wales waiting for eye care services, which reflects the broader trend of rising demand outstripping workforce capacity. Additionally, Senedd members Lesley Griffiths and James Evans highlighted the need for technological investments and immediate actions to prevent further delays in eye care treatments.
In response to these pressing concerns, Welsh Government health secretary Jeremy Miles acknowledged the challenges faced by patients waiting for treatment and outlined the government’s initiatives to improve the situation. While noting a 44% decrease in the number of individuals waiting over two years for treatment since March 2022, Mr Miles acknowledged the need for further improvements in reducing waiting times across Wales. He underlined Wales as the only UK country with specific targets for hospital-based eye care, focusing on individuals at high risk of vision loss. The Welsh Government has allocated an additional £30 million annual investment to transition more eye care services from hospitals to community-based optometry services.
Following a tense debate in the Senedd, the motion presented by the Conservatives was narrowly defeated by a vote of 22-23, with Plaid Cymru aligning with the Conservatives in support, while Labour opposed the motion. Instead, the Welsh Government’s amendment passed by an inverse margin, outlining their approach to addressing the challenges in eye care services across Wales. Despite the differing outcomes in the debate, the urgent need for action on eye care in Wales remains a critical issue that requires immediate attention and collaborative efforts from all political parties involved.