Community eye care provider ACES has recently won approval from Mid and South Essex ICB to treat NHS eye care patients in Chelmsford, delivering critical ophthalmic services such as cataract and glaucoma surgery.
Until now, NHS cataract patients in Chelmsford have often suffered severe delays for treatment. ACES’s approval is a critical step in helping to cut the backlog for vital services such as cataract surgery, meaning local patients will receive care faster.
Cataracts are cloudy patches that form on the natural lens of your eye. Over time these patches usually become bigger, causing blurry vision and if left untreated, can eventually lead to blindness. The condition largely affects older people, and the longer they go without treatment, the greater the risk of associated mental health issues, or of suffering a serious fall, which requires urgent and costly medical care. Statistics show that 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 suffer a fall every year, rising to 1 in 2 over the age of 80[1].
People who live in Chelmsford and have any concerns about their eyesight are encouraged to book an appointment with their optometrist in the first instance or speak to their GP.
ACES typically treats the cataracts of NHS patients within two to four weeks from their pre-assessment[2], with opportunity for patients existing to have surgery within fourteen days, cutting waiting times in the process. Giving patients the care they need in a timely manner helps to avoid further medical complications caused by poor eyesight, for example by reducing the risk of trips and falls.
Stephen Hannan, Clinical Services Director at ACES, said: “ACES is proud to be expanding access to vital eye care services across the country.
“Being awarded approval to treat people in and around Chelmsford in Essex will help to cut waiting lists in the local area benefiting those who matter most, the general public. Our expert team of clinicians looks forward to providing treatment of the highest quality, including for glaucoma, cataracts, macular disease and more to NHS patients in this area and beyond.”
Established in 2005, ACES has a track record of providing high-quality eye care services for NHS patients across East Anglia. Since then, ACES has been able to expand its NHS services to other parts of the UK. In addition to its new offer in Chelmsford, ACES has also won approval to begin treating NHS patients in many other Integrated Care Board (ICB) areas in England.
[2] Treatment, appointment and wait time is subject to availability and dependent on patient and clinic location.
