ALL her life, Elizabeth Redfern has loved sitting down with a good book.
Now that pastime has been taken from her after waiting about six years to receive an operation to fix the cataracts in both her eyes.
The Rosedale woman spoke out yesterday after years of frustration with Queensland Health.
“I’m hoping that by saying something I can get my sight back,” she said.
Ms Redfern, 71, spent four years on a waiting list in Townsville before she moved to Rosedale two years ago and her case was transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Ms Redfern said the sight in her right eye had deteriorated so much that she could only see outlines of large objects when her left eye was covered.
Member for Burnett Rob Messenger called for Health Minister Paul Lucas to guarantee that Ms Redfern’s surgery would be completed soon.
“The cataracts have been deteriorating and to be waiting this long is very wrong,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Queensland Health said in June 2008, Ms Redfern was living independently and able to drive a car.
“Her optometrist and GP vision assessments showed she had fair vision and, as such, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital assessed her as category 3,” she said.
A category 3 patient is deemed to have a condition unlikely to deteriorate quickly and which does not have the potential to become an emergency.
“The RBWH received an update from Ms Redfern’s optometrist today in which the optometrist said Ms Redfern’s condition had deteriorated slightly but that she was still living independently. Therefore she is still considered to be a category 3 patient.”
Queensland Eye Specialists director and surgeon Jai Panchapakesan said studies had shown that clear sight for seniors improved their mood, life and safety.
“If you can’t read and can’t watch television, what do you do all day?” he said.
“It also decreases their chances of tripping over something on the floor and hurting themselves.”
Source: News Mail