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Skye man waits nearly two years for eye appointment

Grahame Fish waited nearly two years for an eye appointment.
Grahame Fish waited nearly two years for an eye appointment.

Health bosses have apologised after a man from Skye waited almost two years for an eye appointment at Raigmore Hospital.

Grahame Fish from Glenhinnisdal on the Isle of Skye contacted NHS Highland in March after failing to be called for his regular check-up for ocular hypertension since July 2016.

Mr Fish, who is due to regularly see doctors every six or 12 months, yesterday attended Raigmore Hospital to visit an orthoptist and glaucoma specialist.

Mr Fish said: “When I asked the reason for the huge backlog of appointments on this latest occasion, I was told that it was down to the large number of patients needing attention.

“Of course, that is another way of saying that there are not enough staff to deal with the caseload.

“While I’m glad that I do have an appointment at last, I am worried that there are a lot of patients in a similar position but who do not complain.”

The retired librarian called upon the help of MSP Rhoda Grant in order to address the extensive waiting time between his appointments.

Mrs Grant said: “Mr Fish’s case highlights a tremendous strain in the service with huge backlogs in patients being seen.

“While it is good to see new staff being taken on, which will help relieve stress on current front-line staff, I am concerned that there are gaps in the system, one which this constituent fell through before suddenly realising he hadn’t been called for a check-up.

“NHS Highland is currently working on a plan for an elective care centre in Inverness which would provide full ophthalmology services and hopefully reduce waiting times and I’m fully supportive of this given the situation just now.”

A spokesman for NHS Highland said: “Despite a national shortage of consultant ophthalmologists and a number of vacant posts across Scotland, NHS Highland has just successfully recruited to a post vacant since 2015.

“The incoming consultant has a special interest in glaucoma and will start in post on 1st August 2018.

“In addition, an oculoplastic consultant ophthalmologist was recently recruited on 21st May 2018 replacing a consultant who retired in December 2017.

“These appointments along with a review of how services are delivered will see a continued improvement in waiting times for both new and return appointments.”

Statistics revealed earlier this year patients were waiting as long as 35 weeks for new outpatient appointments at Raigmore Hospital’s ophthalmology service.