Moneo writes: Cataract surgery decision defies sense

On October 23 my local colleagues and I received a letter from our clinical commissioning group (CCG) telling us that, with effect from November 1, we could no longer refer our cataract patients for surgery without the approval of the CCG and the issuing of a ‘unique reference number’ for the surgery. Without this number, surgery could not proceed and if it did, it would not be paid for. We were told we had to download a two-page form from the internet, complete it, and then email it via a secure NHS mail link to the CCG for approval, before waiting for consent to proceed.