The Welsh Government and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have announced that outpatient and elective ophthalmology services activity is to be increased.
This comes after the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy raised concerns about the fact that the total number of patient pathways waiting for an outpatient appointment and assessed as Health Risk Factor R1, which means that there is a risk of irreversible harm or significant patient adverse outcome if the target date is missed, has increased from 28,886 in October 2019 to 39,003 in April 2023.
Responding to a question by Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services, stated:
“The health board’s plan to increase productivity in this area includes the introduction of evening appointments during the summer, supporting community eyecare practitioners to treat more people in the community, the creation of advanced optometric posts, and the development of a retinopathy pathway.”
Commenting on the Health Board’s plan, Janet said:
“I welcome the fact that the Minister and Health Board have acted on my request for short term measures to be implemented to combat the fact that there has been a major increase in the number of eye care patients waiting for appointments.
“Time will tell if the additional measures prove effective, but I hope that a lesson has been learnt that patients should not be left in situations where delays could cause irreversible harm.
“I will continue to monitor eye care services so to try and help ensure that there is improved access for residents in Aberconwy and across North Wales.”
ENDS
Written Question to Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services:
What discussions has the Minister had with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about introducing short term measures to combat the increasing number of patient pathways awaiting ophthalmology appointments?
Response from the Minister:
“Welsh Government officials meet monthly with all health boards to examine performance and quality issues related to ophthalmology services. I meet regularly with the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and have discussed with him the need to increase both outpatient and elective activity in line with GIRFT standards (Getting it Right First Time).
The health board’s plan to increase productivity in this area includes the introduction of evening appointments during the summer, supporting community eyecare practitioners to treat more people in the community, the creation of advanced optometric posts, and the development of a retinopathy pathway.”
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi cyhoeddi y bydd gweithgarwch gwasanaethau offthalmoleg cleifion allanol a gwasanaethau offthalmoleg a gynlluniwyd yn cael eu cynyddu.
Daw hyn ar ôl i Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy fynegi pryderon am y ffaith bod cyfanswm nifer y llwybrau cleifion sy'n aros am apwyntiad cleifion allanol ac wedi’u hasesu fel rhai Ffactor Risg Iechyd R1, sy'n golygu bod risg o niwed na ellir ei wrthdroi neu ganlyniadau andwyol sylweddol i gleifion os methir y dyddiad targed, wedi cynyddu o 28,886 ym mis Hydref 2019 i 39,003 ym mis Ebrill 2023.
Wrth ymateb i gwestiwn gan Janet Finch-Saunders AS, dywedodd Eluned Morgan AS, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol:
"Mae cynllun y bwrdd iechyd i gynyddu cynhyrchiant yn y maes hwn yn cynnwys cyflwyno apwyntiadau fin nos yn ystod yr haf, cefnogi ymarferwyr gofal llygaid cymunedol i drin mwy o bobl yn y gymuned, creu swyddi optometrig uwch, a datblygu llwybr retinopathi."
Wrth sôn am gynllun y Bwrdd Iechyd, dywedodd Janet:
"Rwy'n croesawu'r ffaith bod y Gweinidog a'r Bwrdd Iechyd wedi gweithredu ar fy nghais i roi mesurau tymor byr ar waith i fynd i'r afael â'r ffaith bod cynnydd mawr wedi bod yn nifer y cleifion gofal llygaid sy'n aros am apwyntiadau.
"Amser a ddengys a yw'r mesurau ychwanegol yn effeithiol, ond rwy'n gobeithio y bydd gwers wedi’i dysgu na ddylid gadael cleifion mewn sefyllfaoedd lle gallai oedi achosi niwed na ellir ei wrthdroi.
"Byddaf yn parhau i fonitro gwasanaethau gofal llygaid er mwyn ceisio helpu i sicrhau bod gwell mynediad i drigolion Aberconwy ac ar draws Gogledd Cymru."
DIWEDD
Cwestiwn Ysgrifenedig i Eluned Morgan AS, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol:
Pa drafodaethau y mae'r Gweinidog wedi'u cael gyda Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ynghylch cyflwyno mesurau tymor byr i fynd i'r afael â'r nifer cynyddol o lwybrau cleifion sy'n aros am apwyntiadau offthalmoleg?
Ymateb gan y Gweinidog:
"Mae swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyfarfod yn fisol gyda'r holl fyrddau iechyd i archwilio materion perfformiad ac ansawdd sy'n gysylltiedig â gwasanaethau offthalmoleg. Rwy'n cyfarfod yn rheolaidd â Chadeirydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ac rydw i wedi trafod gydag ef yr angen i gynyddu gweithgarwch cleifion allanol a thriniaethau a gynlluniwyd yn unol â safonau GIRFT (Gwneud pethau'n iawn y tro cyntaf).
Mae cynllun y bwrdd iechyd i gynyddu cynhyrchiant yn y maes hwn yn cynnwys cyflwyno apwyntiadau gyda'r nos yn ystod yr haf, cefnogi ymarferwyr gofal llygaid cymunedol i drin mwy o bobl yn y gymuned, creu swyddi optometrig uwch, a datblygu llwybr retinopathi. "
Ffoto:
Janet Finch-Saunders AS
