National Patient Safety Agency: Preventing delay to follow up for patients with glaucoma (11 June 2009)

Summary

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued guidance on preventing delay to follow up for patients with glaucoma [NPSA/2009/RRR004]. This followed evidence of harm to patients with glaucoma suffering visual loss after delays to follow up appointments. This came to light from incidents reported by staff in the NHS relating to glaucoma.

This paper provides background information and a checklist for organisations to help implement actions in the accompanying guidance to prevent harm from delayed follow-up appointments for patients with glaucoma. It presents details of incident data and litigation data. This work was supported by an interactive event in March 2009 with input from ophthalmic surgeons (and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists), nurses, service managers and patient representatives.

Content

Key recommendations from the report

• Treating clinicians should ensure that all people with ocular hypertension or suspected or diagnosed glaucoma are monitored within the monitoring intervals outlined in the NICE glaucoma guideline, and
• none of these monitoring appointments should be delayed or cancelled.