Verum writes: Working together to share the eye care burden

The theme of last month’s Verum column highlighted the worrying number of patients suffering from glaucoma whose follow up appointment is delayed or worse lost completely. This appears to be a common occurrence across the country that is well known to all concerned, except perhaps the patient, who may be blissfully unaware their vision is being lost as inevitably delays in investigation and identification of deterioration in a condition will contribute to visual loss.

Despite this, the perception is that the problem is getting worse and yet urgent action does not seem to be being taken by appropriate bodies; clinical commissioning groups, CCGs and trusts. To my thinking the obvious solution is to have more optometrists involved in routine glaucoma follow up, either in the community or working within the hospital alongside an ophthalmologist. Since the previous column was published I have received anecdotal comments on the obstacles that exist to addressing the situation and I wanted to explore these in greater detail.