Health Minister visits Belfast Trust’s innovative Ophthalmology Service
Date published:
Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt has visited the Ophthalmology Department at the Belfast Trust’s Mater Hospital to observe the pioneering approach to reducing lengthy waiting lists for paediatric and adult squint surgery.
The visit highlighted the collaborative efforts between Ophthalmologists and Advanced Practice Allied Health Professional (AHP) Orthoptists, demonstrating the Trust’s commitment to addressing one of Northern Ireland’s longest elective surgery wait times.
The Ophthalmology department’s new approach involves upskilling Orthoptists. They include conducting independent pre-operative assessment clinics, including patient assessment and consent, serving as first surgical assistants in theatre and providing direct hands-on support to Ophthalmologists and delivering independent post-surgical reviews.
During the tour of the Squint Surgery Clinic the Health Minister met with key staff, including Dr Pamela Anketell and Adam Wright, who are leading the charge in implementing the innovative new service model. The Minister also spoke with patients who have directly benefited from the revamped services, which are now improving access to care and reducing delays.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “This is more than an innovative model; it is about people working positively together. It is a prime example of workforce substitution, maximising the skills of Orthoptists to free up capacity for Ophthalmologists while reducing theatre cancellations.
“Since its inception, the initiative has already seen significant positive impacts on improving access to care, reducing waiting times, and enhancing outcomes for patients across Northern Ireland. I commend everyone involved. You have transformed a significant challenge into a remarkable success.”
Squint surgery for both children and adults faced interruptions for several years due to staffing shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic, and limited theatre access.
Highlighting the success in addressing these challenges, the Belfast Trust’s Interim Chief Executive, Maureen Edwards said: “Over the past 18 months, paediatric squint surgeries have been re-established, with further developments planned for 2025.
“In November this year, adult squint surgery services were resumed, addressing a backlog of 256 paediatric patients, with the longest wait time of four years and 221 adult patients, with the longest wait time of 8.5 years. That’s an incredible achievement and one we want to foster and grow across all services.”
The Trust’s Orthoptist-led Quality Improvement (QI) project, launched in April 2024 and has seen two Orthoptists complete professional competency training to assist in surgery, ensuring patients are pre-assessed, prepared, and supported throughout their surgical journey. This has led to improved patient safety, better outcomes, and reduced waiting times.
As part of the visit, the Health Minister also met with Dr Julie Silvestri, an esteemed Ophthalmologist at the Trust, who recently received the Department of Health’s Elective Care Recognition Award. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving the innovative changes that are transforming the Ophthalmology Department.
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