NHS DUMFRIES and Galloway is amongst the top spenders on vision related problems of all UK health boards, according to new research.
Statistics published by Book an Eye Test reveal that the region’s expenditure on sight-related conditions is the fifth highest at £8,384,530 per year, or £56 per person.
But data from the same study does not place the region anywhere in the top 50 worst areas for sight loss across the country, nor list Dumfries and Galloway Health Board in the top 50 for most eye-related hospital admissions.
Responding to the findings, NHS Dumfries and Galloway said in a statement: “The report points out that the places with high levels of sight issues are generally the more rural and coastal areas that have older populations. This applies to Dumfries and Galloway.
“That it is not on the list of locations where this is a significant issue may reflect that the higher expenditure leads to a better outcome for patients and therefore reduces the level of visual loss.
“NHS Dumfries and Galloway is currently up to date with treatment for patients with macular degeneration who require regular intravitreal injections. This is a high-expenditure area due to the cost of the treatment and frequency of outpatient visits required. It has also been shown to significantly reduce visual loss.”
