North Central London Integrated Care Service (NCL ICS) say that their proposals will enable them to carry out an estimated additional 3,000 eye surgery procedures a year and reduce waits for sight saving surgery for some patients by up to four weeks.Eye surgery proposals: Information leaflet text
The local NHS is proposing changes to where some patients have planned eye surgery in North Central London (NCL) so we can carry out an estimated additional 3,000 eye surgery procedures a year and reduce waits for sight saving surgery for some patients by up to four weeks
Where can patients currently have planned eye surgery in NCL?
- The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust which delivers services at Edgware Community Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, or Whittington Hospital
- North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at Moorfields Eye Hospital (City Road Campus), Moorfields Eye Unit at St Ann’s Hospital or Moorfields Eye Unit at Potters Bar Community Hospital
- Independent sector providers contracted to provide services for the NHS.
What are the proposed changes?
Two changes are proposed which should improve surgical efficiency and help us to carry out additional eye surgery procedures and reduce wait times:
- To create a hub for eye (ophthalmology) surgery at Edgware Community Hospital which provides surgery for adults for common, usually straightforward (low complexity) conditions like cataracts. This would bring together all eye surgery currently provided at Whittington Hospital and some activity from Royal Free Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital into one site at Edgware Community Hospital where a higher number of surgical procedures can be done.
- A small number of complex eye surgeries and procedures that need to co-locate with other specialties will remain at both Chase Farm Hospital and Royal Free Hospital.
Patients would continue to attend their local or preferred hospital for tests and outpatient appointments and could continue to choose which NHS provider they are referred to for care.
Existing planned eye surgery services would continue at North Middlesex University Hospital, Moorfields sites (City Road Campus, St Ann’s Hospital and Potters Bar Community Hospital) and independent sector providers contracted to provide services for the NHS.
How will patients potentially benefit?
We have reviewed existing relevant patient engagement to understand what matters most to patients and a regular theme is that patients are willing to travel further if they can be seen quicker. By increasing the number of surgical procedures we can do, this should reduce wait times for some patients by up to four weeks.
How can I share my views on the proposal?
To share your views:
- Complete a short online survey at nclhealthandcare.org.uk/eyesurgery (contact us using the details below for a printed copy)
- Write to Freepost SURGERY (no need for a stamp or postcode)
- Phone 020 4518 7132
- Invite the programme team to speak to your group using the contact details above.
Please contact us if you require information in a different format or support to provide feedback, using the details above.
The opportunity to give feedback runs from 21 August to 16 October 2023
Where can I find more information?
Visit nclhealthandcare.org.uk/eyesurgery. Please contact us if you have any questions
