New initiative unveiled to reduce eye care waiting times and backlog

PLANS developed by our ophthalmology network to speed up waiting times by launching a new testing pathway and opening two new diagnostic centres have been given the go-ahead.

The approach will benefit new glaucoma and medical retina patients, as well as follow-up patients overdue their appointment, across South East London.

The new pathway will be delivered at King’s Denmark Hill site and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Minnie Kidd House, while Queen Mary’s Hospital at Sidcup will meet the needs of the King’s south sites.

Between them, it is anticipated that as much as 84% of the current capacity deficit could be closed.

Patients will be able to undergo an extensive series of diagnostic tests, after which a senior clinician will review the results virtually.

The pathway – supported by the National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation team - enables a clinical decision without the patient attending hospital. This saves unnecessary appointments for patients who can be discharged or only require monitoring.

It will also lead to faster identification and prioritisation of those patients that need face-to-face care.

Research shows that clinicians are able to review more patients virtually than by face-to-face (as many as 50% more patients per four-hour session) so the approach is a more efficient use of their time.

It’s also favoured by patients – a study by Moorfields revealed that 77% preferred the virtual model to face-to-face appointments.

Our Network Programme Lead for Ophthalmology, ENT and Dental, Adam Mills, said: “Expanding capacity in this way – just one of a number of planned improvements to ophthalmology services across South East London – will reduce the longstanding imbalance between supply and demand.

“We will be able to clear a large proportion of the backlog and shorten waiting times, thereby reducing the risk of permanent sight loss for patients waiting for care.”