The Southern District Health Board has reduced its ophthalmology waiting list by about two-thirds so far this year.
It is still struggling to treat patients reliant on the Southland Hospital gynaecology outpatient service, that waiting list having increased by a further 80 patients in the past four months.
Ophthalmology has been a troubled service for the SDHB, and in 2018 it was the subject of a highly critical health and disability commissioner report which focused closely on its waiting lists.
A combined effort by SDHB staff and out-of-town clinicians reduced the lists to manageable proportions but in the past two years, largely due to staff shortages and the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns, the lists have ballooned again.
In February the service told the SDHB’s hospital advisory committee 3166 patients were waiting for procedures, 73 classified as extremely urgent.
By April that had reduced to 2057 patients who were overdue.
A report to be considered by the committee tomorrow said that at May 12 there were 1136 patients overdue, 10 of whom were listed as "Do Not Delay".
"This is when the medical staff feel that harm may come to the patient if not seen on time," the report, by SDHB chief operating officer Hamish Brown, said.
"This is essentially a safety net to ensure the patients most in need are booked the soonest."
Since the issues with ophthalmology were highlighted in January more than 2000 overdue patients had had an appointment, Mr Brown said.
"This reduction is attributed to the use of Sequre medical locum agency, other approved senior medical officer (SMO) locums and eye department staff undertaking additional shifts."
The service has suffered a blow however, after a recently-appointed optometrist had to leave suddenly for family reasons.
An orthoptist is due to start in mid-June and an ophthalmologist is being interviewed, but the overseas-based physician would likely not be able to start work for a year, should they accept the role.
The SDHB had also held a meeting with community optometrists in Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau to possibly outsource appropriate work to them.
Meanwhile, Mr Brown hoped the creation of two clinical nurse specialist roles and the possible September start of two new SMOs would help reduce a still burgeoning waiting list for Southland Hospital’s gynaecology outpatient service.
A further 80 women joined a waiting list now almost 1000 strong during the past few months, an escalation in part due to uncovered maternity leave and staff falling ill with Covid-19.
Mr Brown said a call to the primary health sector for help had been encouraging.
"There has been a positive response from GPs with a special interest in gynaecology and their additional clinics will assist greatly with the routine patient backlog.
"It is anticipated that this model, assuming it to be successful, will be proposed to continue following the recovery of waiting times as patients remain in the community to receive treatment."
Despite the prospect of new staff joining the service, total recovery from the lengthy wait lists could take one to two years, Mr Brown warned.
