Case Study: Postoperative Cataract Care – Independent Sector Provider of NHS Cataract Surgery Collaboration with Primary Care Optometry
25 January 2022
A national independent sector provider of NHS cataract surgery (Optegra), working with the largest Local Optical Committee company (Primary Eyecare Services) mobilised a national post cataract assessment service provided by a network of more than 1800 optometry practices.
Our latest case study looks at how the service enabled the surgery provider to free up over 3000 new patient appointments per year, nationally, to see new patients to support the reduction in waiting lists.
So far there have been over 15,000 post-operative assessments carried out in primary care optometry avoiding a hospital appointment.
Mr Javad Moayedi, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and NHS Medical Director for Optegra said:
“For Optegra, this approach releases some time pressure for our staff, consultants, and optometrists, and so an increased number of patients can be seen by us and treated with surgery – which in turn helps to reduce the waiting times for individuals and tackles the broader NHS backlog.
“The plus for community optometrists and opticians is to retain their patients for any ongoing care as well as increase and develop their skills within ophthalmology. It also creates a closer relationship between the hospital and opticians which is always a good thing.”
The collaboration has led to a high-quality service with a good or very good patient feedback, while meeting the aims of the NHS Long term plan, increasing productivity to avert the impact of aging population and the COVID-19 pandemic on waiting times for cataract surgery.