Imagine being told you need to see a specialist about your eyesight, then waiting so long that, by the time your appointment finally arrives, the damage to your vision cannot be undone. For many people across England, this is not a hypothetical fear. This is a risk which they currently face; one which could be avoided and prevented.
Research commissioned by eye health specialists recently presented to MPs has brought the full extent of the NHS ophthalmology crisis to light.
At Kingsley Napley, our clinical negligence team sees the human cost of healthcare delays every day. This new report reinforces what our clients know all too well: that delayed diagnosis and treatment does not simply mean inconvenience. It can mean a permanent and life-changing loss.
The Scale of the Problem
The NHS is currently dealing with a total backlog of 7.28 million appointments. One in every 12 patients awaiting a first appointment is an eye patient, making ophthalmology the second largest NHS backlog in the entire service.
The research report examined ophthalmology waiting lists cross all 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and the results were alarming. During the last year alone, “the difference between clinical eye care referrals and treatments […] was nearly 200,000”.
This backlog is growing, not slowing, with new referrals outweighing the number of patients being treated in 34 out of the 42 ICBs across England last year. This is not a problem confined to certain struggling regions, but a systemic nationwide failure.
“Blind Spots”
The research also identified particular “blind spots” – areas where large numbers of people may be suffering from serious eye conditions but are currently invisible to the system, either undiagnosed or untreated. The three conditions of greatest concern are:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
Glaucoma, for example, is one of the UK’s leading causes of preventable sight loss, but levels of glaucoma-related sight loss have been rising since 2020/2021. The word ‘preventable’ is key – with timely diagnosis and treatment, sight loss can be avoided.
Analysis detailed in the report suggests that the treatment gap for all three conditions was most pronounced in the South East of England, excluding London. In relation to cataracts, there were 22% fewer surgeries “than estimated prevalence data and average nationwide performance suggests may be required”.
The Impact
The painful truth at the heart of this crisis is that much of this sight loss is avoidable. The conditions at the centre of this backlog – glaucoma, AMD, cataracts and more – are all treatable, particularly when identified early. The problem is not a lack of solutions or clinical expertise; it is a lack of timely access to them. As waiting lists grow, patients are passing the window in which treatment can make a meaningful difference, with many at risk of becoming needlessly blind as a consequence. This is not a crisis of inconvenience. It is a crisis of irreversible, life-altering loss. Our clients have lost their jobs and independence as a result of NHS negligence.
What Needs to Change?
Campaigners are calling on the NHS and policymakers to take action. In particular, the new report recommends mandatory reporting of ophthalmology waiting lists by condition, providing data that will increase transparency and help the NHS to understand the true scale of the problem. Greater transparency will in turn allow for effective allocation of resources and more efficient treatment pathways, giving patients an informed choice about their care and reducing the risk of avoidable harm.
Have You Been Affected?
At Kingsley Napley, our specialist clinical negligence team understands the devastating impact that delays in diagnosis and treatment can have on patients and their families. Losing your sight, particularly when that loss could have been prevented with timely care, is an experience that affects every aspect of your life: your independence, your work, your relationships, and your wellbeing.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of delays in an ophthalmology diagnosis or treatment, whether that relates to glaucoma, AMD, cataracts, or any other eye condition, you may have a claim for clinical negligence. Our team has extensive experience in handling complex medical negligence cases with sensitivity and a genuine commitment to achieving justice for our clients.
