Devastation as eye care service is axed

PATIENTS have been left “devastated” as the axe has fallen on a vital NHS eye service in Coventry and Warwickshire.

- By CLAIRE HARRISON

One of those impacted raised her concerns at a George Eliot Hospital and South Warwickshire Foundation Trust board meeting.

It follows a decision made by the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to axe the use of Specsavers to provide urgent and community eye care appointments for locals. The patient, called Julie, told the board: “This is devastating for people like myself with complex eye conditions. Getting an appointment at an emergency eye clinic at Coventry is almost impossible due to their triage system which is dysfunctional.