Almost 1,000 people are waiting for life-changing cataract operations.

One pensioner who is almost blind in one eye has slammed West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) for delaying her treatment and decided to be treated privately.

Pat Best, 75, had an operation to remove a cataract from her right eye in May last year but still needs one from her left eye dealt with.

But the former teacher, who has been left suffering constant migraines, says she was told by Worthing Hospital that the PCT stopped funding such operations between December and April.

The PCT denies this and said funding had not been halted. But officials were today unable to confirm why there was a delay and how the waiting list compared with the same period last year.