Concerns Raised Over Ophthalmology Waiting Times at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Serious concerns have been raised about ophthalmology services at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MWL), particularly at Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, where data shows over 1,600 patients are on the overdue long wait list for treatment.

The information, obtained from the Trust’s Business Intelligence team, highlights a worrying backlog in a service where delays can have devastating, irreversible consequences for patients’ eyesight.

NHS Constitution – Your Right to Timely Treatment

Under the NHS Constitution, patients have a legal right to start consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral. This rule – known as Referral to Treatment (RTT) – exists to ensure patients are seen and treated before their conditions deteriorate. Moorfields Eye Hospital, one of the UK’s leading ophthalmology centres, explains that all NHS patients should be treated within this 18-week timeframe, with very limited exceptions.

When patients are not seen within these timescales, the risk of permanent harm increases dramatically – particularly for conditions such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other sight-threatening diseases.

Case Review: Patient Registered Blind Following Delays

A recent internal review at Southport and Ormskirk highlighted the case of a long-standing glaucoma patient who experienced a 13-month delay in follow-up care.

• The patient was due to be seen in July 2023 but was not reviewed until August 2024, following concerns raised during an eye test at Specsavers.
• By this point, the patient’s eyesight had deteriorated significantly, and despite subsequent treatment, they were later registered blind.
• The Trust identified that delays were due to serious capacity issues, including staff sickness, consultant vacancies, and a lack of systems to effectively track high-risk patients.

This case was formally categorised as causing severe harm and highlights the real-world impact of delayed ophthalmology treatment. Our fear is that there are many others who are facing life changing issues as a result of these delays.

A System Under Strain

The review found that:

• There are currently 1,600 overdue ophthalmology patients at the Trust, with work ongoing to identify how many may have been “lost to follow up.”
• At least 65 time-critical patients require urgent clinical review.
• The failsafe monitoring role, recommended nationally under NHS “Getting It Right First Time” guidance to protect high-risk patients, was removed during restructuring – leaving serious gaps in patient safety systems.
• Staffing shortages, lack of clinic space, and reduced theatre capacity have compounded the fragility of the service, which is currently classed as an Extreme risk on the Trust’s Corporate Risk Register.

At present, Southport and Ormskirk are closed to routine GP ophthalmology referrals, with only cataract, paediatric, and emergency referrals being accepted.

The Human Cost of Delayed Ophthalmology Care

At Fletchers Solicitors, we have seen first-hand, many times, how delayed ophthalmology treatment can change lives. One of our clients, a 65-year-old charity worker from Southport was left with permanent glaucoma and peripheral vision loss after years of missed follow-ups and referrals.

He now lives with anxiety about further sight deterioration, an increased risk of injury due to blind spots, and a reliance on his wife for support. His case demonstrates that beyond the statistics, these delays have real, life-altering impacts on patients and their families.

Expert Legal Perspective

Francesca Paul, who is a Partner in Fletchers Solicitors, commented:

“We have seen through our clients the devastating outcomes that poor ophthalmology care can have. Sight loss is irreversible, and delays in treatment can mean the difference between preserving vision and losing it completely. The situation at Southport and Ormskirk highlights why patient safety must remain the absolute priority. The Trust must take urgent steps to ensure patients are monitored, followed up, and treated within the timescales required. We need to make sure that no more patients fall through the gaps and are harmed as a result. These delays can be devastating as many of my clients can attest to”

Supporting Patients with delayed ophthalmology care claims in Southport and Ormskirk

Fletchers Solicitors is one of the UK’s leading medical negligence law firms who started our business in Southport. We are currently reviewing the situation at MWL and supporting individuals who have been affected by delays in ophthalmology care.

If you or a loved one has experienced harm due to delayed ophthalmology treatment, our specialist medical negligence team can provide advice on your options.

Contact us today for free, confidential advice.