Charitable donations fund eye examination lamp for Withybush Hospital

Pictured, left to right: Russell Walker, Field Service Engineer, Haag-Streit; Vicki Hughes, Emergency Department Consultant; Dr Antony Mathew, Emergency Department Consultant.

Thanks to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has provided over £20,000 for a new slit lamp for the Emergency Department and Minor Injury Unit in Withybush General Hospital. 

A slit lamp is an important piece of equipment when undertaking a comprehensive eye examination. The instrument can be used to examine the eyes in detail and determine whether there are any abnormalities. The lamp also ensures that results can be discussed with patients and specialists immediately.

A slit lamp can help diagnose several issues including injury, disease or damage to parts of the eye; foreign bodies in the eye; dry eye syndrome; retinal detachment; retina vessel occlusion; macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Dr Antony Varekattu Mathew, Consultant in Emergency Medicine/Clinical Lead Foundation Programme Director, said: “We are so grateful that generous donations from our local community have enabled us to buy this invaluable piece of equipment which will benefit patients for many years to come.

“The slit lamp is so useful in the diagnosis and evaluation of common ocular complaints, ocular emergencies, and systemic disease. It also helps in providing various eye treatments like the removal of foreign body from the eye.

“Approximately 3-4% of patients presenting to the Emergency Department may require eye examinations. The slit lamp ensures we can provide them with the best service.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”