Resource Planning in Glaucoma: A Tool to Evaluate Glaucoma Service Capacity

Background: The National Patient Safety Agency (2009) publication advising timely follow-up of patients with established glaucoma followed several reported instances of visual loss due to postponed appointments and patients lost to follow-up. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists Quality Standards Development Group stated that all hospital appointments should occur within 15% of the intended follow-up period.Aim: To determine whether:1. Glaucoma follow-up appointments at a teaching hospital occur within the requested time2. Appointments are requested at appropriate intervals based on the NICE Guidelines3. The capacity of the glaucoma service is adequateMethods: A two-part audit was undertaken of 98 and 99 consecutive patients respectively attending specialist glaucoma clinics. In the first part, the reasons for delayed appointments were recorded. In the second part the requested follow-up was compared with NICE guidelines where applicable. Based on the findings, changes were implemented and a re-a...