31 January 2017

Following the announcement that eye services in three sub-specialties at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust will be temporarily unavailable to new referrals, alternative arrangements have been put in place for patients in North Powys from 1 February 2017.

The three sub-specialties – glaucoma, adult squint surgery and non-specialised ophthalmology – are temporarily unavailable to new referrals from Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

The following services are affected:

  • New referrals for ophthalmology appointments at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (including at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Wrekin Community Clinic and Princess Royal Hospital) for adult squint surgery, glaucoma and non-specialised ophthalmology.
  • This primarily relates to referrals for residents of central and eastern Montgomeryshire for whom The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is their main provider of district general hospital services.

The following services are not affected:

  • Urgent (48 hour) and emergency referrals to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (e.g. to the Urgent Eye Clinic or A&E).
  • New referrals to other ophthalmology sub-specialties at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
  • Follow-up appointments at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust for all existing patients,.
  • Referrals to ophthalmology clinics in community hospitals in Powys that are provided by “outreach” consultants from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
  • New referrals and follow-up appointments in other parts of Powys with other providers

 

What alternative services are in place?

Andrew Cresswell, Locality General Manager for North Powys at Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “Whilst these temporary measures are in place, Powys Teaching Health Board has worked with The Practice Group, which is an experienced provider of NHS ophthalmology services in accordance with NHS quality and standards. The Practice Group already provide community ophthalmology services within Shropshire.

“Powys patients needing new referrals for glaucoma or non-specialised ophthalmology will be referred to community clinics provided by The Practice Group. In addition to their current clinics in Shropshire, The Practice Group will be offering an additional clinic in Welshpool.

“Experienced clinicians from The Practice Group will assess your needs and provide local advice and treatment. Where necessary they will support referral to an alternative District General Hospital whilst these services are temporarily unavailable at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, and please accept our apologies that this referral may be further away whilst these temporary measures are in place.

“However, working in partnership with The Practice Group including through the community clinic in Welshpool we aim to provide as much of your care as close to home as possible.”

 

What do I need to do?

  • Patients being referred for ophthalmology appointments do not need to take any action.
  • Urgent care remains unchanged.
  • If you are receiving follow-up care for glaucoma, adult squint surgery or non-specialised ophthalmology then your care and treatment is unaffected.
  • If you are being referred for new care and treatment for glaucoma, adult squint surgery or non-specialised ophthalmology then your GP (or other referring clinician) will explain the alternative service that is in place and refer you to the alternative service.

 

How long will the temporary arrangements be in place?

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust anticipates that this temporary measure will be in place until late summer or early autumn 2017.

 

Why are these ophthalmology sub-specialties temporarily closed to new referrals?

The Ophthalmology Service at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has experienced some difficulties in managing the demand of referrals.

Carolynne Scott, Assistant Chief Operating Officer for Scheduled Care at SaTH, said: “The Ophthalmology Service at SaTH has been under considerable pressure and dealing with demand, as well as workforce pressures, for some time.

“This temporary measure has not been taken lightly, and will allow us to deal with the demand and to ensure patients already referred are seen within a reasonable timeframe.

“While these sub-specialty areas are closed, new patients will be directed to alternative providers.

“Existing patients awaiting follow-up appointments or treatments will not be affected.

“I must emphasise that this is only a temporary measure and our intention is to once again accept new referrals for these three sub-specialties in the future.

“I’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause people.”