New eye specialist to start

It’s been a long 11 month search but finally South Canterbury has a new ophthalmologist starting in August.

The new eye specialist, Dr Muhammad Khalid, is a consultant ophthalmologist and clinical lead ophthalmology with the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.

He will be moving to Timaru with his family to take up his new position with the South Canterbury District Health Board on August 14.

Dr Khalid trained in Ireland and obtained his fellowship in Ophthalmology from The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS ED).

The SCDHB specialist position was left vacant by Dr Michael Mair’s retirement in July 2015 and locums have provided some cover since. Appointing a new eye specialist was harder than the SCDHB had anticipated. In the interim some local patients had to undergo cataract operations in Christchurch.

Latest data shows SCDHB completed 14 cataract discharges in April this year but for the year to date 129 were completed which was 50 below target.

Margaret Wooding is one of the more than 160 registered blind people in the Timaru area who is pleased with the new appointment. ‘‘It’s wonderful news,’’ she said. As well as the registered blind people in Timaru there were many other people having eye problems who would benefit, she said.

Last year Wooding’s son had to take the day off work to take her to Christchurch Hospital for an eye operation. The locums in Timaru had been good, Wooding said but not always available when she needed them.

‘‘I have to go to Christchurch every six months for a check up,’’ she said. She was looking forward to not having to travel out of district for her appointments.