Latest news with #CitizenExperiencesReport
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Former nurse removes cyst from eye after three-year wait
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Former nurse removes cyst from eye after three-year wait
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
Leader Live
6 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Former nurse removes cyst from her eye after years on waiting list
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Woman did something unbelievable to herself after waiting years for eye treatment
Woman did something unbelievable to herself after waiting years for eye treatment A new report has also found that some patients at a Welsh health board are waiting 36 hours for treatment in the emergency department The report was presented at a Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board meeting this week (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live ) An elderly woman resorted to removing a cyst from her own eye after enduring years of waiting for treatment. The perilous procedure was highlighted in a report which examined the extensive delays faced by individuals awaiting medical treatment for various conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented at a Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board meeting on Thursday, revealed that exasperated patients were taking drastic measures due to prolonged waiting times. The report was part of a "listening and understanding initiative to improve health services. The report also detailed lengthy waits endured by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Reports of patients waiting up to 36 hours were noted, with "overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort" being "common concerns". Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here . There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs regarding their constituents' experiences, with waiting times being "the main focus". One account described an 84-year-old former nurse who had been added to the ophthalmology waiting list in June, 2019, but had waited approximately three years before being seen. "She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself," the report read. "She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October, 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own." Another case involved a man who aspired to join the British Army but was hindered by his dental health. The report said: "He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment." The long wait also had a "catastrophic impact" on one patient's life who experienced daily pain, while another, awaiting surgery for bladder stones, suffered from "continual bleeding". Community discussions further highlighted issues relating to outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the organisation that provides a "voice" for individuals when accessing health services, also collected data. Feedback revealed "significant challenges" in obtaining timely and affordable primary care, difficulties in securing GP appointments, and the lack or loss of NHS dental services. One person said: "I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist." Another patient revealed how they'd spent 12 hours in a corridor on a trolley. Long waiting times for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also flagged as "a major concern". The meeting was informed that while numerous comments pointed to "dissatisfaction or frustration", there was also a wave of "gratitude" and commendation for the "professionalism and compassion" displayed by hospital staff, members, and teams. The report went on to outline steps taken by the board in response to demands for better services. In dental care, this involved establishing contracts valued at over £1.5 million to bolster NHS dental services. Additional procurement processes for general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access amounted to more than £5 million. February saw the introduction of a new dental access portal, which has been helping to "simplify and centralise" the process of obtaining dental care. Improvements have been made across various departments including emergency, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer treatments, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite. For neuro-developmental services, which offer mental health support to children and adolescents, an improvement programme for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) was underway. Additionally, the newly established Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had provided assistance to 266 individuals within its first three months since launching in February. Article continues below The board recognised there was still "significant work" to be done in tackling "challenges" in a manner that was a "sustainable, long-term way".
North Wales Live
6 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Retired nurse removes cyst from her own eye after years-long treatment wait
An elderly woman was driven to remove a cyst from her own eye after waiting years for treatment. The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and "overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort" were also "common concerns". The public consultation had been part of a "listening and understanding" initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times "the main focus". One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. "She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself," the report quoted. "She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own." Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: "He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment." Waiting had also had a "catastrophic impact" on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured "continual bleeding". Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a "voice", when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included "significant challenges" accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested "sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways". Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist." Another patient reported waiting: "12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also " a major concern". The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting "dissatisfaction or frustration", many other participants had also expressed "gratitude" and praise for the "professionalism and compassion" by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping "simplify and centralise" access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub - Alternatives to Admission - service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that "significant work" remained to address "challenges" in a "sustainable, long-term way".
