Patients from across the Central region, who are waiting for ophthalmology (eye) surgery, will soon benefit from faster and more accessible surgical appointments for cataract and vitreoretinal operations.

A new cataract surgery service at Hutt Hospital’s procedure suite will bring elective cataract treatment closer to home for patients living in and around Hutt Valley – helping reduce the waiting list, speed up appointments and remove the need to travel to Kenepuru Hospital.

The service, which carried out its first cataract surgery this week, offers 20 to 25 surgical sessions per month. This will relieve pressure in busy ophthalmology theatres at Kenepuru and Wellington Hospitals - allowing for more complex and acute eye surgery to take place at both these sites.

At Kenepuru Hospital, a second set of eye surgery equipment – specifically for vitreoretinal surgery – has been installed as part of the Regional Retinal Network Plan, which recognises an increase in acute retinal procedures across the region.

That service opened on Thursday this week, when the first vitreoretinal surgery took place. It offers a day service and provides an additional two to three vitreoretinal surgery lists a week.

Together, these two initiatives will substantially increase the number of patients receiving cataract and vitreoretinal treatment by 300 to 500 per annum.

Keith Small – Clinical Lead Ophthalmology, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, Health NZ – says having the second set of retinal equipment in place, alongside the new cataract set-up at Hutt Hospital, means cataract patients who previously attended Kenepuru Hospital can now be treated at Hutt Hospital. This frees up theatre slots at Kenepuru for the more specialist – and often acute – vitreoretinal surgery.

“With Hutt Hospital’s procedure suite now equipped for cataract surgery, Kenepuru Hospital can increase vitreoretinal surgeries for patients throughout Capital, Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa, as well as Whanganui and Palmerston North. This is great news, particularly given the rise in demand for this type of surgery – as a result of retinal detachment or complications from diabetes, for example. In addition, vitreoretinal surgery cases often require urgent treatment. This has meant patients travelling to Wellington Hospital, where they have (necessarily) taken priority over less acute retinal patients can now receive treatment at Kenepuru Hospital. That reduces the waiting times on the retinal surgery elective waitlist.

“Both initiatives are the result of much dedication and planning to increase capacity across the Central region and a good example of how hospitals working together can significantly increase the quality of life of patients with visual impairments. It’s exciting to be in this area of work and helping change people’s lives, as well as providing staff at Hutt and Kenepuru hospitals with new ophthalmology training opportunities.”

These initiatives align with several of the government's health targets, which focus on reduced wait times for specialist assessments and elective treatments. The targets, which came into effect in July 2024 aim to drive better health outcomes for all New Zealanders. Public reporting of these targets helps identify areas needing improvement and ensures accountability in healthcare delivery.

Health targets (external link)

Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the launch of the new services earlier this week. Read his media release.

New and expanded eye care services for Hutt Valley and Porirua - Beehive.govt.nz (external link)