A temporary mobile operating theatre providing much needed cataract surgery for patients living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire has been deemed an ‘incredible success’.
To date nearly 850 patients have received life changing eye surgery and due to the success of the operating theatre, its stay at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest has been extended through April to complete an additional 175 operations.
Joe Teape, Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive at Hywel Dda UHB said: “This has been an incredible success that has made a real difference to people with cataracts. Feedback from patients has been very positive. Our first external results back from post operative checks conducted by optometrists have all demonstrated an improvement in the patients’ sight.”
Prior to the start of operations at the temporary unit, there were over 1500 people who had waited over 36 weeks for cataract surgery. This figure has been reduced significantly to 350
The operations in the temporary unit are in addition to those continuing in Hywel Dda’s permanent theatres which are maximising every possible slot available to significantly reduce waiting times for cataract surgery across the three counties moving forward.
For the latest news and events from Hywel Dda UHB please visit www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/news
