Cataract Patient Left Waiting Months For Surgery As Mater Dei Missing Necessary Device
An elderly man in need of cataract eye surgery has had no choice but to wait for months due to delays from Mater Dei over a needed device that has been out of stock.
A concerned granddaughter contacted Lovin Malta over the issue, as her grandfather was due for the surgery since Easter. But no one contacted him from the hospital, and this has now been going on for over four months.
“It’s just so shocking that after months of waiting for this eyesight-saving surgery, he was never told why his appointment was never set up,” the granddaughter told Lovin Malta.
“He was completely ignored when he called Mater Dei to inquire about it and when they did pick up, they’d say he’ll get an appointment soon. This has been going on for at least four months,” she explained.
“It’s been terrible seeing him struggle to do daily tasks and to know that he barely even recognises our faces anymore because the system is severely flawed,” she lamented.
Lovin Malta contacted the Health Ministry to enquire on the matter.
“Following recommendations by the Ophthalmology Department at Mater Dei Hospital, the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit is sourcing alternative Irrigation/Aspiration disposable devices used for cataract surgery,” the Health Ministry representative explained.
“This has led to the postponement of a number of planned surgical procedures. New dates for surgery will be given as soon as the new disposal devices are available,” he said.
Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye and, in most cases, replace it with an artificial lens. Normally, the lens of your eye is clear. A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, which eventually affects your vision.
Do you know anyone going through a similar experience?
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