Neglected patients went blind

by JENNY HOPE, Daily Mail

Ministers' obsession with targets has been blamed for a hospital scandal in which patients lost their sight.

Twenty-five went blind because their treatment was delayed to ensure medics met other care standards, according to a damning report into Labour's targetsetting agenda.

Neglected

The study, by MPs on the Public Administration Committee, found certain types of treatment were neglected at the Bristol Eye Hospital because they had not been labelled a Department of Health priority.

Clinical director Dr Richard Harrad told the committee that waiting time targets for initial appointments were achieved 'at the expense of follow-up appointments'.

It meant diabetes patients who had been diagnosed with problems were not given the treatment they needed soon enough, and 25 patients ended up losing their sight.

Cancelled

Dr Harrad said up to 1,000 appointments were cancelled every month to ensure waiting time targets were hit.

Some patients had now waited 20 months longer than the planned date for their appointment because they did not fall into one of the Government's targets.

He said: 'We have kept clinical incident forms for all patients, mostly those with glaucoma or diabetes, who have lost vision as a result of delayed follow up - there have been 25 in the past two years.'

The report condemns Whitehall targets for threatening standards throughout public services. It calls for an independent body to be brought in to check targets in a bid to stop them becoming a 'political football'.

Tory health spokesman Dr Liam Fox said: 'This is the clearest and most shocking example of how Ministers' obsession with targets is both immoral and unethical.'

The report follows the Audit Commission's charge that the NHS is running on 'quick fixes' to meet Government targets rather than making reforms to serve patients better.

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