New clinic aims to cut 70-week cataract waiting lists
A PRIVATE clinic offering NHS cataract procedures will open in Gateshead in November in the hope of helping bring down huge waiting lists.
The Optegra clinic will open on the Team Valley Trading Estate on November 15 – with Gateshead mayor Coun Dot Burnett set to attend.
Optegra offers NHS procedures which are free at the point of access.
The company’s annual Vision of Britain report highlights how the pandemic has had a detrimental impact on our eyesight.
Amir Hamid, an ophthalmic surgeon and medical director at Optegra, said: “The centre itself will be aimed at predominantly at treatment for people with cataracts on the NHS.
“It will be free at the point of access for each patient. The important thing at this stage is that it is this part of England is where the wait for cataract surgery has been impacted by the pandemic quite significantly. People have been waiting 70 weeks; that’s a long time to wait when you’re not able to see very well.
“These people are all effectively out of circulation, unable to take part in normal life.”
He added: “What we have seen is people waiting so long for surgery that the cataracts become very advanced.”
Richard Armitage, who is in charge of Optegra’s NHS work, said: “We support hospitals and do work on their behalf. The target for waits in 18 weeks. Obviously everyone knows that...is creaking.”
He said Optegra worked with local NHS bodies and community opticians to help pick up the slack.
Mr Hamid added: “What patients need to be aware of is that even if they’re already on a waiting list for cataract surgery, they can be re-referred to a different provider.”