Dr Sheng Chiong Hong says our Ophthalmology Outpatients team is leading the charge, with nurses now delivering sight-saving procedures traditionally performed by doctors.
“We use an injection called Avastin that saves sight about 95% of the time,” says Dr Hong. “It inhibits a specific chemical in the eye, meaning we can target disease very specifically. It’s effective for eye problems such as macular degeneration and complications from diabetes.
“Previously if you got a diagnosis of macular degeneration, we'd have sent you to the Blind Foundation. But things have changed dramatically because of the availability of these medications.”
The Eye Clinic has been using the injection since 2006.
“We gave less than a dozen injections in the first year – now we give at least 100 a week. Injections are given monthly, treatment can be indefinite, and with an ageing population, these degenerative conditions are getting more prevalent. So the numbers are still growing.”
Initially GPs were trained up to deliver the injections in Christchurch, but with demand constantly rising, the GP model wasn’t sustainable. Taking the lead from the UK and Auckland, we started training our nurses instead.
“They know the department, they know the anatomy of the eye, and they know all the very specific medical terms that we use in ophthalmology. So it makes sense to train nurses.”
There’s currently no waiting list for injections – and the team wants to keep it that way.
“We’ve now got a good team of nurse injectors to deliver the service,” says Dr Hong. “Our goal is to continue to meet the demand, because critical treatments that are sight-saving should not be delayed. Delivering these injections is one of our highest priorities.”
Nurses now provide about 80% of the Avastin injection service, and Clinical coordinator/Nurse Injector Melanie Peck says there are plans to continue to grow the capability of the nurses in the department.
“Our first nurse injector, Liane Matthews, has been appointed Clinical Nurse Specialist, and she’ll be delivering nurse-led clinics in other areas of ophthalmology. And we’ve got other ideas for professional development. It keeps nurses engaged in their specialty.”
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