Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies has called for urgent action over eye care waiting lists. The latest figures from the Welsh Government show that 11,295 patients in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area are at risk of irreversible harm.

They show that 63.3 per cent assessed as being at highest risk of irreversible harm are waiting beyond their target date for treatment.

Mr Davies said: “These statistics are extremely alarming and behind them are thousands of people living in west Wales at risk of irreversible sight loss because they are waiting too long for their appointments. Not only are many of these patients in pain and discomfort, but some have also lost jobs because of their deteriorating eyesight.

“We need action as a matter of urgency and I urge the Welsh Government to endorse the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology and prioritise its implementation. Eye care services are still under huge pressures, their infrastructure requires significant investment and there are serious recruitment and retention issues. Therefore, it’s vital that this is prioritised immediately – as each month that passes without a commitment to improve eye care will result in more and more people being added to waiting lists.”