A primary care trust has agreed to put procedures in place to ensure a sight saving treatment is available to residents.
For more than a year, Wolverhampton PCT failed to follow NICE guidance on the prescribing of Ozurdex for treatment of macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion.
Legal challenge
A Freedom of Information request revealed that the PCT was failing to meet their legal obligation to make this treatment available.
Following a legal challenge from RNIB, the PCT has now agreed to implement a system that will ensure Ozurdex is available to those who need it in the Wolverhampton area.
Macula oedema following retinal vein occlusion causes central vision loss which is used for reading, watching TV, recognising faces and seeing fine detail.
Ozurdex is now approved for use in the treatment of this condition and can significantly improve vision if accessed quickly.
Macula oedema
Last year, RNIB wrote to all PCTs in England asking them whether Ozurdex was available to patients. It revealed that 12 per cent had no service in place and 42 per cent had a sub-standard service.
Article published in NB magazine March 2013.