We are pleased to see an inquiry into ophthalmology services in Wales – that we contributed to – make far-reaching recommendations to policymakers that could help tackle challenges around workforce, estates and IT infrastructure.
The Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee’s report key recommendations include:
- Health Education and Improvement Wales to provide Welsh Government with an update on how it will improve the recruitment, retention and training capacity of the ophthalmic workforce, developing a professional workforce plan for ophthalmology to identify workforce needs and improve retention.
- Establish a cross-sector oversight board for ophthalmology to monitor implementation of the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology, with representation from the College.
- Record waiting list data for ophthalmology at a sub-specialty level so that service planning can be better aligned to patient need.
- Report on the progress of making OpenEyes, the electronic health record system, accessible across all parts of the eye care sector by the target date of March 2026.
This reflects many of the key issues we raised in our written evidence, and through the evidence our Llywydd, Rhianon Reynolds, gave in-person to the committee in March 2025. The importance of the report was also highlighted by BBC News. [You can see a Welsh language version of this news item here.]
Commenting on the report, Rhianon Reynolds said: “It is really positive that the committee has listened to our evidence and has made important recommendations to help tackle the serious issues facing ophthalmology services in Wales. Underpinning this is the effective implementation of the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology.
“The onus is now on the Welsh Government to implement the recommendations. We look forward to working with policymakers to do that, and ultimately ensure patients have better access to services and we cut waiting lists and reduce avoidable sight loss”.