Meetings

3.8.1 The Committee noted the response.

3.7.1 The Committee noted the response.

3.6.1 The Committee noted the response.

3.5.1 The Committee noted the response.

3.4.1 The Committee noted the letter.

NDM9152  Peter Fox (Monmouth)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Inquiry into Ophthalmology Services in Wales’ that was laid on 28 November 2025.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 15 January 2026.

The item started at 16.09

NDM9152  Peter Fox (Monmouth)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Health and Social Care Committee report ‘Inquiry into Ophthalmology Services in Wales’ that was laid on 28 November 2025.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 15 January 2026.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Paper 3 – Welsh Government response to report on Ophthalmology Services in Wales

Paper 4 - Ophthalmology Services in Wales - analysis of Welsh Government's response to report

6.1 The Committee discussed the Welsh Government response on the Committee’s report: Ophthalmology Services in Wales.

Paper 3 - Ophthalmology Services in Wales: draft report

7.1 The Committee considered the draft report, and agreed that any further amendments would be approved by email.

3.1.1 The Committee noted the response.

3.4.1 The Committee noted the additional evidence received.

3.3.1 The Committee noted the additional evidence received.

5.1  The Committee considered the evidence received.

Jeremy Miles – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

David O'Sullivan - Chief Optometric Adviser

Alex Slade - Director of Primary Care, Mental Health & Early Years

Research brief

Paper 2 - Ophthalmology Services in Wales: Welsh Government response

3.1 The Committee received evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

3.2 The Cabinet Secretary agreed to provide an update on: -

·         the timescale for an update on the findings of the review by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, following ‘safety concerns regarding age related macular degeneration’ in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

·         data and details on the levels of upskilling for Optometrists.

Rebecca John - National GOSW Clinical Lead, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Research brief

Paper 1- NHS Wales Shared Services

2.1 The Committee received evidence from the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

Anton Saayman, Medical Dean, Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Nik Sheen, Associate Director of Optometry, Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Helen Baker, Associate Director of Secondary Care, Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Research brief

Paper 1 - Health Education and Improvement Wales

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Health Education and Improvement Wales.

Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive Officer, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Catherine Wood, Director of Operations for Planned Care, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Michael Stechman, Clinical Director for Ophthalmology and Consultant General Surgeon, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer, Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Paper 3 - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Paper 4 - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Paper 5 - Hywel Dda University Health Board

3.1 The Committee heard evidence from representatives of Local Health Boards.

Sam Hall, Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health Digital Services, Digital Health and Care Wales

Helen Thomas, Chief Executive, Digital Health and Care Wales

Dr Emma Cooke, Executive Director of Allied Health Professionals, Health Scientists & Community Services Development, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

David Thomas, Director of Digital & Health Intelligence, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Research brief

Paper 1 – Digital Health and Care Wales

Paper 2 – Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW); and digital directorate representatives from Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB).

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence received.

9.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received and the need for an additional evidence session after the Easter recess.

Owen Williams, Director - Wales Council of the Blind

Ffion Haf Lewis, RNIB Cymru

Sara Crowley, RNIB Cymru

Marian Williams,  Macular Society

Lowri Bartrum, Vision Support

Paper 5 – RNIB Cymru: consultation response

6.1 The Committee received evidence from patients representatives from RNIB Cymru, the Macular Society, Wales Council of the Blind, Vision Support, and Betsi Cadwaladr and Cardiff and the Vale University Health Boards.

Owain Mealing, Chair – Optometry Wales

Dan McGhee, Non-executive director – Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians

Dr Peter Hampson, Clinical and Policy Director – Association of Optometrists

Paper 4 – Optometry Wales: consultation response

5.1 The Committee received evidence from Optometry Wales, Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians, and the Association of Optometrists.

Dr Andrew Pyott – Consultant Ophthalmologist, Clinical Lead – Ophthalmology – NHS Highland

Paper 3 – Briefing paper: Dr Andrew Pyott, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead in Ophthalmology

4.1 The Committee received evidence from Dr Andrew Pyott; Consultant Ophthalmologist, Clinical Lead – Ophthalmology – NHS Highland.

Rhianon Reynolds, National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology, Clinical Implementation Network - NHS Executive

Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Director, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Llywydd of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in Wales

William Oliver, Ophthalmology Clinical Implementation Network for Planned Care – NHS Wales Executive

Research brief

The National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology

Paper 2 - The Royal College of Ophthalmologists – Consultation response

3.1 The Committee received evidence from the NHS Wales Executive.