On 18 May, the National Board of Health and Welfare decided to give Region Stockholm and St. Erik Eye Hospital national responsibility for the care and surgery of premature babies affected by retinal changes.
About 40 percent of all babies born before week 31 are at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which can lead to severe visual impairment or blindness if not treated in time. In Sweden, about 40 to 50 patients are treated for severe ROP each year. In some cases, retinal surgery is required on children.
The National Board of Health and Welfare has now decided that the care of these children will be provided in three places in the country as national highly specialised care, where Region Stockholm and St. Erik Eye Hospital is one. Retinal surgery of children is concentrated in St. Erik Eye Hospital.
“This is very encouraging news. It is natural that St. Erik gets this assignment, and we can now continue to provide the highest quality care to this important but small patient group,” says CEO Sten Kjellström.
At St Erik, the paediatric ophthalmologists and retinal surgeons are jointly responsible for the care of the young patients.