๐๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ &...
๐๐จ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ
๐ England has seen a significant increase in cataract surgeries, with nearly 60% of NHS operations now outsourced to private clinics, up from 24% five years ago. Critics argue this trend diverts crucial funding from more serious conditions that can lead to blindness.
๐ Hundreds of thousands more NHS patients are having cataracts removed annually, funded by taxpayers but performed by private clinics. This surge is straining NHS finances, according to doctors. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists reports a 40% increase in cataract treatments from pre-pandemic levels, attributing this to outsourcing.
๐ท Data from 37 to 42 integrated care boards in England shows the NHS paid private clinics around ยฃ700 million for cataract surgeries from 2018-2019 to 2022-2023, doubling annual spending on cataract procedures from ยฃ218 million to ยฃ437 million.
๐ฉโโ๏ธ The top five companies providing cataract surgery to the NHS have opened 101 new eye clinics over the past five years, totaling 126 in England. These companies are, Optegra Eye Health Care, Newmedica, InHealth, SpaMedica & Community Health & Eyecare Ltd (CHEC). As private clinical expand, the debate over NHS resource allocation and healthcare funding continues.
