The Guardian

NHS backlogs ‘caused hundreds to lose sight’

Rachel Hall

Hundreds of patients have lost their eyesight or had it irreparably damaged owing to NHS backlogs, research suggests. NHS England clinicians have filed 551 reports of patients who lost their sight due to delayed appointments since 2019.

Adam Sampson, chief executive of the Association of Optometrists, urged ministers to introduce an eye health strategy to enable optometrists to ease the burden on hospitals. A spokesperson for the health department said: “We are taking action to improve access to services, including appointing a national clinical director for eye care.”

National

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2023-03-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://guardian.pressreader.com/article/281754158563259

Guardian/Observer