Family doctors' leaders in York are to meet hospital bosses to discuss ways of improving waiting times for eye treatment - including cataract operations.

Ideas they will be discussing include holding outpatients eye clinics in GP surgeries - and even sending some patients to hospitals other than the YDH if they have shorter waiting times.

As highlighted in the Evening Press, the YDH's outpatient's eye clinic has been overwhelmed by sheer numbers of patients.

Staff are struggling to cope in cramped, uncomfortable conditions, with no room to expand - leading to some of the longest waiting times for eye operations in the region.

York GP Dr Robert Markham, chairman of the newly-formed York Primary Care Group of GPs and community nurses, said GPs would be meeting soon with hospital staff to thrash out a 'service agreement' for the next few years.

Improving opthalmology services would be one of the top priorities, he said.

He said there was 'no question' that the standard of care for eye patients at York District Hospital was first rate - but waiting times were simply too long.

The primary care group, which will effectively buy hospital care for its patients through contracts with the YDH, would be looking at what was the most effective way of providing care, he said.

That could mean outpatients appointments continuing to be held at the YDH, in community hospitals like Selby and Easingwold, and even in GP surgeries themselves.

Dr Markham said: "If we can provide a better, more effective service, then perhaps we can take some of the load off staff at the hospital."

He said GPs would not rule out the possibility of sending some patients to other hospitals with shorter waiting times. "But we would prefer to work up the local services if we can."

Susan Acott, general manager for surgical services at York District Hospital, said consultants already held out-patients clinics at Selby War Memorial Hospital and were trying to encourage more patients to go there.

Using other centres such as GP surgeries for outpatients appointments would be a good idea, she said - provided they had the proper diagnostic equipment.

She said: "I don't think any of the consultants would be against doing more clinics in the community - but they would have to have the relevant diagnostic equipment. It would be no use just setting aside a couple of rooms."

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