Thompsons Solicitors calls for action over delays at Southampton’s Ophthalmology department

Thompsons Solicitors has raised concerns about the long term impact of an appointment backlog at University Hospital Southampton’s Ophthalmology department after receiving claim requests from a number of patients.

Eye patients at the hospital have suffered a worsening of their conditions due to a growing backlog of thousands of people waiting for follow up appointments. 

Reports from October 2018 state that at least 7,000 patients were not given follow up appointments at University Hospital Southampton, which caused trainee doctors to write to the chiefs of the NHS trust responsible to highlight their concerns.

Of these patients, many are suffering from glaucoma and diabetes-related eye problems. Both are major causes of blindness.   

Gwen Kirby-Dent of Thompsons Solicitors, commented: “The pressure placed on NHS hospitals across the country, and especially on the nation’s eye clinics, as a result of savage government cuts is well known but the delays at Southampton are starting to have a real and negative impact. Action has to be taken.

“Our clients have had their sight worsen due to delayed appointments and we fear they won’t be alone. When people start becoming more ill a delay turns into a crisis. Hospitals have a duty of care to their patients and it’s worrying that a situation as serious as this, where people are actually beginning to lose their sight, has developed at University Hospital Southampton.

“It’s all very well our making medical negligence claims to get our clients the support they need to cope with their worsened sight but when there is a backlog of 7,000 patients it’s the hospital authorities who need to take action, not lawyers. We genuinely worry that not enough is being done.

“We will do everything we can to make sure those responsible for our client’s deteriorating health are held accountable but we are picking up the pieces. Action needs to be taken by the Trust and fast.”