Counties-Manukau 'overwhelmed' by eye patients backlog

Counties Manukau DHB is trying to clear its back-log of eye patients with the first of four special clinics being held on Sunday. Concerns have been raised about patients waiting so long for specialist appointments they go blind, as has happened in Southland. The DHB's ophthalmology department is working with other eye doctors who have volunteered their time to speed up the checks. Brian Kent-Smith is the chair of the College of Ophthalmologists. He tells Guyon Espiner the main problem for the DHB is resourcing.