More eye services available for Pembrokeshire and South Ceredigion

Pembrokeshire and south Ceredigion patients being treated for Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are receiving the care they need closer to home thanks to the treatment and clinics provided at Withybush Hospital and Bro Preseli Community Resource Centre.
Since April 2016, nearly 1000 patient visits have taken place with close to 500 treatment injections provided by the Wet AMD service at the Bro Preseli Community Care Resource Centre in Crymych.
This is in addition to weekly review clinics at Withybush Hospital that see up to 40 patients each week, and monthly clinics that ensure patients receive their clinically prescribed follow up appointments locally and as soon as possible.
To further complement this work, the Day Surgical Unit (DSU) at Withybush Hospital can now deliver a minimum of 25 treatment injections per week.
Previously, patients would have needed to travel to Amman Valley Hospital in Ammanford for the same treatment.
Joe Teape, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Patients with Wet AMD are primarily elderly patients, often living in rural areas who have for some time had to travel to Amman Valley Hospital every four or five weeks for scans and injections.
“As well as improving the patient experience we hope that by providing this care in Pembrokeshire will in time release much needed theatre capacity at Amman Valley Hospital to meet our ever increasing demands for cataract procedures.”

Patient Experience:

Meet Jim Hughes aged 77 and a longstanding medication induced diabetic. Jim has recently benefited from this treatment being available in Pembrokeshire:

“As a broadcast journalist my eyes are a most important factor in my role and it is well known that this condition can have a detrimental effect on your sight. It was noticed that I had some deterioration in my sight and laser treatment was forthcoming at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.
“I must say that this type of treatment is a little frightening but the reassurance of the staff and Consultant carrying out this procedure allayed any fears I had.
“Following on, it was noticed that I had a slight pressure problem behind my eyes and was recommended to see another consultant, Mr. Wintle. Following examination he recommended a course of eye injections.
“This was obviously, again, very concerning for me and the thought of having a needle inserted into my eye was, again, a little frightening. This procedure was carried out at Amman Valley Hospital and the reassurance of the staff and Consultant carrying out this procedure allayed my fears and concerns. There was no effect following the anaesthetic into the eye, or the injection, apart from a little soreness following the procedure.
“The situation has changed and these procedures are now being carried out by the Consultant, Mr. Wintle, at Haverfordwest and, again the team under his leadership alleviated any concerns. The procedure takes seconds and has totally been a success in my case and allowed me to continue life as normal.”