Aston to tackle backlog with private partner

Aston University has partnered with private clinic, Eye Docs, for 32 months as part of a shared-care model to reduce NHS surgery backlogs and bring profits of over £8.8 million.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) established a cross-disciplinary team between Aston University’s School of Optometry, Aston Business School and Eye Docs to improve delegation of patient appointments to community practices and Eye Docs’ surgeons in the West Midlands.

Shehzad Naroo, professor of optometry at Aston University, said: ‘It is a privilege to be involved in this KTP, which will enable Eye Docs to increase patient numbers to fully utilise theatre capacity by receiving more surgical referrals from local optometrists.’