Ophthalmology planning, transformation and implementation collaborative

Waiting times for cataract surgery

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 4 weeks
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 4 weeks
 University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust14 weeks

Why choose an NHS hospital?

  • Our hospital waiting times are competitive and you will be seen in a timely manner.
  • Our region benefits from having four NHS hospital Trusts, offering high-quality care for cataract surgery.
  • You are guaranteed to receive complete care, even if you need complex treatment or if you are at risk of complications.
  • We have skilled NHS surgeons and staff with years of experience.
  • Having NHS cataract surgery helps to support the whole of ophthalmology including emergency work and staff training, supporting the sustainability of local NHS ophthalmology departments.
     

What is OPTIC?

  • OPTIC stands for Ophthalmology Planning, Transformation and Implementation Collaborative. It is a collaboration of people who come together to ensure that there is no ‘postcode lottery’ in Lancashire and South Cumbria, aiming to provide sustainable and accessible high-quality care to all patients.
  • It was established by Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) in January 2021.

What do we do?

The purpose of OPTIC is to:

  • Reduce waiting times and time spent in hospital by improving links with community services and improving the patient journey.
  • Ensure easy and convenient access to services for patients.
  • Ensure a good quality of care by aligning with national and local clinical standards. 
  • Promote a positive working and learning culture for staff.
  • Consider training and education needs and overall impact upon the workforce. 
  • Advocate for sustainable change, to future proof our services.
  • Engage with the wider ophthalmic workforce to ensure our goals are realistic, aligned and achievable.
  • Communicate clearly about future changes and how Trusts will be impacted. 

Who are our members?

  • The membership of OPTIC comprises of clinical and operational leads from all four Trusts, commissioners, national/regional representatives from NHS England, NECRTP (National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme) and GIRFT (Get It Right First Time).
  • SRO: Aaron Cummins (Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust)
  • Clinical Lead: Shveta Bansal (Clinical Director Ophthalmology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
  • Workstream Lead: Sophie Whitham (Transformation Consultant, NHS Transformation Unit)
  • Commissioning Lead: Katie Rimmer/Donna Parker (NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board)
  • LEHN Lead: Tom Mackley (LEHN Chair)

Achievements to date

OPTIC has made significant progress since its formation including:

  • We have developed and agreed our vision, case for change and models of care. 
  • Implementation of the outpatient model of care with agreement to prioritise cataract and glaucoma. 
  • Established task and finish groups. 
  • Engaged with The National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme.
  • Implemented robust digital systems across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
  • Developed a case study with the Royal College of Optometrists: Royal College of Ophthalmology - Reducing the Postcode Lottery

What to expect from your local NHS Trust

Ophthalmology - Blackpool Victoria Hospital

The ophthalmology department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital provides the following services:

  • Cataract
  • Cataract surgery treatment
  • Diabetic Medical Retina
  • External Eye Disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Laser (YAG capsulotomy)
  • Low Vision
  • Neuro-Ophthalmology
  • Oculoplastics/Orbits/Lacrimal
  • Oncology (Established Diagnosis)
  • Orthoptics
  • Other Medical Retina
  • Squint / Ocular Motility
  • Vitreoretinal

Integrated Eye Service (Ophthalmology) :: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (elht.nhs.uk)

The ophthalmology department at East Lancashire hospitals is based at Burnley General Teaching Hospital in two dedicated eye theatres, by a team of doctors and nurses who all pride themselves on the delivery of the very best quality patient care.

ELHT provides a range of services for all local residents and people from further afield who choose to be treated by our department. All consultants are experts in their fields of ophthalmology and undertake all types of eye surgery.

The main focus is the treatment and care of NHS patients with a wide range of eye problems, from common eye complaints to more specialised eye complaints which need expert care. Treatments include:

  • Accident and Emergency – for urgent sight-threatening conditions.
  • Cataract surgery
  • External disease – for conditions relating to the outside part of the eyeball, including the cornea, iris and sclera.
  • Glaucoma
  • Oculo plastic – for treatment of conditions affecting the eyelids, orbit and tear glands.
  • Medical retina – for conditions at the back of the eye, which are treated medically using drugs, eye drops or laser.
  • Retinal vascular diseases – diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema, retinal vein occlusion.

Our consultant team is:

  • Mr B Fernando, Clinical Director – Oculoplastics
  • Mrs M Mohan, Quality and Safety Lead – Paediatrics
  • Mrs S Abugreen, Research Lead – Macular
  • Mrs Sanghvi, Education Lead – Diabetic Retina
  • Mr P David - Vitreoretinal
  • Mr H Usmani - Corneal
  • Mr V Shankar, Clinical Effectiveness Lead - Glaucoma

Lancashire Teaching Hospital | Lancashire Eye Centre (lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk)

The Lancashire Eye Centre Facilities

The ophthalmology department at Lancashire Teaching hospitals is a dynamic, progressive service which is based across two sites: Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District Hospital. Our primary location is the newly opened Lancashire Eye Centre situated in Chorley District Hospital. The Centre was funded through an £18m investment and comprises a three-storey build with modern, state of the art outpatient and day-case facilities on one site. There are over 20 consult rooms in outpatients and three modern spacious theatres purpose built for an optimal patient experience. The unit is equipped with newly purchased modern diagnostic facilities to provide subspecialist and high-quality care in a number of areas including:

  • Vitreoretinal Surgery
  • Medical Retina
  • Neuroophthalmology and Adult Strabismus
  • Paediatric Ophthalmology
  • Ocuoplastics and Orbital surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • Cornea

​​​​Our Staff

The service prides itself on the high standards our varied and experienced clinical team provides.

We have 12 highly trained consultant ophthalmologists within our service who have subspecialist expertise and are supported by eight medical grade doctors and three training ophthalmologists from North West Deanery and Edge Hill University.

We have supported the development of many allied health professionals. We currently employ over 20 orthoptists and 8 optometrists, we have over 20 ophthalmic technicians, who work alongside medical staff to run our glaucoma and retinal clinics as well as supporting paediatrics/strabismus and neuroophthalmology.

The department runs daily Virtual clinics in glaucoma/retina and neuroophthalmology.

We also have two trained nurse injectors as well as nurse practitioners in emergency clinics, cataract clinics and lasers. 

We have been shortlisted for two HSJ patient safety awards last year and came first in the Trust satisfaction survey for “a great place to work”.

We are a forward-thinking department and encourage active participation in audit, research and education with departmental involvement in several research trials linked through the Trust clinical research facility.

University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust provides Ophthalmology appointments and treatment at all three of their hospital sites in Kendal, Lancaster, and Barrow.

UHMBT provides a range of services for all local residents and people from further afield who choose to be treated there. All consultants are experts in their fields of ophthalmology and undertake all types of eye surgery.

The one-stop cataract clinic has a wait of seven weeks, and includes assessment, biometry, listing, blood pressure, and blood sugar tests. Patients wait approximately 16 weeks from their first appointment for surgery.

The main focus is the treatment and care of NHS patients with a wide range of eye problems, from common eye complaints to more specialised eye complaints which need expert care.

Our consultant team is:

  • Mr Ernest Mark Talbot
  • Mr Shadrock Nabili – Corneal
  • Mr Jayaprakash Patil – Paediatric Ophthalmologist
  • Mr Simon Morgan – AMD
  • Ms Sandra Rayner – Oculoplastic
  • Mrs Neha Mithal – Oculoplastic
  • Mr Ben Moate Oculoplastic/Paediatrics/adult squint
  • Mr Georgios Limitsios – Glaucoma
  • Mr Prateek Agarwal - Corneal

Visit the public facing Eyecare page on the ICB website
Visit the cataract surgery section of NHS.uk

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