Ophthalmology treats problems with the eyes. We serve the populations of both Rotherham and Barnsley here at Rotherham Hospital. We have one Ophthalmology ward, with 11 inpatient beds and six day care beds, which covers both medical and surgical ophthalmology.
Rotherham Hospital manages Ophthalmic Services for Barnsley. All inpatient surgery is carried out at Rotherham Hospital but a full day care surgery and outpatient services are offered locally at Barnsley.
What sort of work do we do?
The main surgical work undertaken is cataract operations. However, glaucoma surgery, laser surgery, squint surgery, corneal grafts, oculoplastic surgery and minor operations are also carried out. The success rates of cataract surgery undertaken at both units are higher than the national rates and the complication rates of surgery are a lot less than the national ones.
We are a modern department with state of the art surgical equipment. We’re the first department in South Yorkshire to implement the government directive of Action on Cataract, reducing patients’ attendance from nine visits to two visits.
Ophthalmology clinics
We have daily clinics here at Rotherham Hospital, including Saturdays, with minor surgery being carried out in the clinic and 11 theatre sessions available per week in the main hospital theatres.
Many patients are referred by their GP, but some are referred by their optician. We operate a one-stop clinic where you will be seen and assessed and if surgery is needed you'll get a date for this at your first clinic visit. More than 90% of our surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic as day surgery cases.
About our Ophthalmology staff
There are eight Consultant Ophthalmologists, four in Rotherham and four in Barnsley, to find out more about our consultants, click on their names below. Some of our nursing staff are triple trained, in general nursing, paediatric nursing and ophthalmic nursing. Three nurse practitioners in both units do most of the pre and post operative assessments as well as stable glaucoma patients as well as macular degenerative services. We have a consultant and junior doctor on call 24 hours a day, this arrangement is shared between ourselves and Barnsley.
Our Ophthalmology consultants:
Mr Hashim
Mr Jabir
Miss Thakur
Vacancy
Our consultant Ophthalmologists at Barnsley are;
Mr Ibrahim
Mr Attia
Mr Gerges
All consultants are specialists in small incision cataract surgery as well as their own subspecialties.
Eye clinic liaison
Rotherham Hospital has two dedicated Eye Clinic Liaison
Officers (ECLO); Michelle Swann and Martin Byrne. They can provide advice and
support for anyone affected by sight loss on topics that can make life easier, such as:
maintaining
your independence
equipment
and technology that can help you do the things you need to do
eye
condition and treatment understanding
access
to education, employment, and leisure
benefits
and concessions that you may be entitled to
Michelle and Martin can be found in the Ophthalmology
department. Michelle is available Mondays and Tuesdays and can be contacted on
07711 920504 or email Michelle.Swann@rnib.org.uk. Martin is available
Wednesdays and Thursdays and can be contacted on 01709 427983 or email
Martin.Byrne@rnib.org.uk.
For more information on RNIB’s Sight
Loss Advice Service visit www.rnib.org.uk/advice.