OOs help to reduce cataract waiting time

Efforts to substantially reduce waiting times for initial NHS cataract procedures appear to be working, the Department of Health has claimed.

The Government allocated £73m to reduce queues and speed up access for the procedure, with optometrists involved, through making direct referrals.

By the end of last month, the Department claimed, no one was waiting more than three months for their first cataract operation.

It follows the £4m funding into pilot schemes to improve services to patients with cataracts, glaucoma, low vision and AMD.

The RNIB was one of the first to welcome the improvement in cataract services, and spoke of its hopes that the NHS can tackle the other optical conditions the Government has targeted.

Anita Lightstone, head of low vision and eye health at the charity, said: 'The RNIB is delighted that waiting times for cataract operations have been significantly reduced and congratulates the NHS on this achievement.  For the thousands of people with cataracts, this will mean that they no longer have to manage with poor sight for long periods of time. We applaud the investment that has been made to achieve this and look forward to equal investment being made in other areas of eye care, such as glaucoma treatment, AMD and low vision.'

The target of under three months is four years ahead of the NHS Plan target.

Alongside extra operations in the NHS, independent sector treatment centres have been providing more than 13,000 additional cataract operations. The independent sector treatment centre programme includes two ophthalmology mobile units operating throughout England, and a fixed site in Daventry.

Health secretary John Reid said that, for the first time, all cataract patients would have a choice of providers when told they need an operation, and by December 2005, the choice would be extended to four or five providers.