Friday 4 March 2011

RATIONING OF OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICES BY HYWEL DDA

I was recently contacted by a constituent living in Carmarthenshire who needed cataract operations in both eyes. The constituent had one operation in October 2010 only to be told he was no longer a priority case and that he could not have a second operation.

I wrote to Hywel Dda Health Board about this and in their reply they said;

“Due to overwhelming demand on ophthalmology services, Hywel Dda Health Board has taken the decision not to see all patients referred to secondary care.”


They also said they had difficulties in recruiting medical staff. I am very concerned that Hywel Dda Local Health Board has confirmed to me that it will treat only one cataract per patient.


If a second treatment is required, the cataract will not be treated. This is wrong.

This sort of rationing is something that we can ill afford in Wales. It is not the way to run a national health service.


This clearly demonstrates the Welsh Conservatives are correct to commit to protecting the health budget in line with inflation and to cut waste and not health spending.

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