Agenda item

Report of the Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

The Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (previously circulated) informing Members of the national and regional situation with regards to Paediatric Ophthalmology Services and the situation of the local service at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT).

It was reported that, due to a combination of factors, hospital eye services were overstretched; that nationally Ophthalmology was recognised as the busiest outpatient attendance by speciality, accounting for 8 per cent of 94 million hospital outpatient attendances; and that County Durham Commissioners and CDDFT had worked collaboratively for several years to introduce community optometry services to relieve pressures on overstretched clinics.

The submitted report stated that there was a national shortage of Paediatric Ophthalmologists and service provision had been critically affected in the last two years following the retirement of two Paediatric Ophthalmologists and scaling back of another; and in order to manage the situation, routine referrals to the Paediatric Ophthalmology were suspended from 1 June 2022.

Members were informed that all children under the care of Paediatric Ophthalmology services at CDDFT continued to have their care delivered as planned; a small number of children required transferring to another hospital for specialist Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmology input; and from 1 June 2022 children requiring a routine referral to Paediatric Ophthalmology were referred to South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne NHS Foundation Trust or South Tees NHS Foundation Trust.

It was reported that the initial term of suspension of services at CDDFT was 6 to 18 months, however, following a successful recruitment programme, it was hoped that the service provided by CDDFT would reopen from January/February 2023.

Discussion ensued regarding succession planning and following concerns raised regarding waiting times for those not deemed as an emergency, Members were assured that a robust eye care system was in place across the region, with a range of schemes in place, ensuring that services were being delivered despite a lapse in consultant led services.

RESOLVED – That the update on the national and regional situation with regards to Paediatric Ophthalmology Services be noted.