Boom in Cataract Surgery in England as Private Clinics Eye Huge Profits

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬

👁 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.

📈 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.

💷 Data from 37 to 42 integrated care boards in England shows the NHS paid private clinics around £700 million for cataract surgeries from 2018-2019 to 2022-2023, doubling annual spending on cataract procedures from £218 million to £437 million.

👩‍⚕️ 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.