To ask the Minister of Health to detail how waiting times for (i) paediatric squint surgery; and (ii) adult squint surgery compares to other elective surgery wait times.

There are two provider Trusts for ophthalmology, Belfast and Western Trusts. Both Trusts undertake adult squint surgery. Only Belfast Trust undertake paediatric squint surgery.

Paediatric Squint surgery referrals are held by Belfast Trust on a regional New Out-Patient Waiting List for pre-assessment and children are only added to the waiting list for squint surgery following a pre-assessment appointment. This ensures that those children allocated to a list for surgery have been assessed as appropriate.

There are currently 159 paediatric squint cases on the regional waiting list. Of these cases, 41 children have been pre-assessed and surgery is imminent.

The remaining 118 children are awaiting their pre-assessment appointment.

For adult surgery, there are 238 patients waiting for adult squint surgery, 549 patients waiting for cataract surgery and 1,143 patients waiting for other surgeries in ophthalmology. It should be noted that due to the switchover to the new encompass system, in both Trusts these figures are provisional.

Although not sight-threatening, the presence of squint in both adults and children can be very distressing, and indeed can have a negative impact on both learning and employment opportunities. It is not acceptable that anyone should have to wait for the opportunity for surgical correction of squint for longer than is clinically necessary.

Recognising this, my recent approval of a total £50m spend for elective backlog clearance will include funding to reduce paediatric squint waits. This funding is part of my Department’s £215m Waiting List Initiative package and officials are currently examining proposals for both paediatric squint backlog clearance, and also building capacity to treat more adult squints.

With respect to these sustained long waits, my Department recognises the historical and ongoing workforce challenges that have resulted in these unacceptably-long waiting times. In order to help address this, my Department’s Elective Care Framework made a commitment to examining an extended role for orthoptists (AHPs) as assistant in theatre, which would support Consultant Ophthalmologists and recognise the unique skills of hospital orthoptists.

This model has been successfully trialled in Belfast Trust for adult and paediatric cases. It includes a role for orthoptic-led pre-assessment and postoperative review clinics which frees consultant capacity and makes inroads into the long waiting times outlined above.

The model is currently being audited with a Business Case for mainstreaming currently being progressed, subject to available funding.