Private cataract clinics have refuted allegations raised in The Sunday Times (April 20) about artificially inflating costs for taxpayers, performing unnecessary operations and incentivising high street optometrists to refer patients to their services.
According to the article, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) raised serious concerns among NHS England officials about some clinics’ financial practices, poor post-surgery care and patient safety.
The private clinics called into question for their impact on NHS services included Aces, SpaMedica, Community Health Eye Care (Chec), Newmedica and Optegra.
A leaked DHSC briefing for ministers reportedly warned that money and doctors were being drained from the health service, with 76% of NHS departments struggling to deliver comprehensive eye care services, including for children.
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