FOI Request 5915 - Cataract Surgery

Details of the Request

Waiting Times and Surgery Volume

1a) In the 24 months to January 2018 (or to the most recent month available), what was the average waiting time in days (referral to treatment time) and maximum waiting times for patients awaiting cataract surgery through NHS Trust?

1b) i) How many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at the last 12 months for which data is available?

ii) How many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at in the 12 month period from January 2016 – January 2017 for which data is available?

1c) i) How many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at during the last 12 months for which data is available?

ii) How many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at Trust in the 12 month period from January 2016 – January 2017 for which data is available.

Referral Criteria

2a) In the last 2 years, how many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at NHS Trust?

2b) In each of the last 2 years, how many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at NHS Trust?

2c) Does NHS Trust operate criteria for determining the priority/eligibility of patients for cataract surgery?

2d) If yes to question 2c), please tick all the boxes below that best describes the criteria you operate

• The discretion of commissioners
• A joint decision between CCG and NHS trust
• Surgery is indicated for control of other co-morbidities
• Procedure of limited clinical value policy
• Visual acuity
• In line with NICE guidelines
• Other

2e) Under what circumstances are NHS cataract patients ineligible for ‘second eye surgery’ – i.e. cataract removal from both eyes?

• No circumstances/ unrestricted
• Determined by commissioners
• Joint decision between CCG and NHS trust
• Criteria the same as for first eye surgery
• Procedure of limited clinical value policy
• Visual acuity
• Quality of life factors
• Anisometropia
• Other

Toric Lenses

1a) Are toric intraocular lenses available for NHS patients with astigmatism undergoing NHS-provided cataract surgery

1b) If yes to 1a, please tick all the conditions and criteria under which toric intraocular lenses are available to NHS patients in the table below.

• All patients with astigmatism
• >1 dioptres
• >2 dioptres
• >3 dioptres
• The discretion of the surgeon
• Other

1c) If yes to 1a, how many patients have been fitted with toric intraocular lenses in the last 12 months, for which data is available? Please include information on:

• All patients treated at NHS trust
• NHS patients treated ‘on the NHS’ at NHS trust

1d) If yes to 1a, how many patients have been fitted with toric intraocular lenses in the 12 month period January 2016-Janaury 2017 for which data is available?

Please include information on:

• All patients treated at NHS trust
• NHS patients treated ‘on the NHS’ at NHS trust

Self –Funding

2a) Does your Trust offer patients the option of paying for cataract surgery procedures (often referred to as ‘self-funding’ or ‘self-pay’), by which we mean cases NOT paid for by insurance companies but rather directly by individuals themselves)?

2b) i) If yes to 2a, how many procedures were carried out and how many patients were treated in the last 12 months (for which data is available)?

• Number of procedures performed in last 12 months
• Number of patients treated in the last 12 months
• Self-funded cataract surgery

ii) If yes to 2a, how many procedures were carried out and how many patients were treated in the period January 2016- January 2017

• Number of procedures performed (January 2016 – January 2017)
• Number of patients treated (January 2016 – January 2017)

Self-funded cataract surgery

3a) If yes to 2a, what is the cost charged to patients for self-funded cataract surgery?

3b) If yes to 2a, please provide your price list if available.

Other

4a) How many YAG lasers associated with cataracts have you performed over the past 3 financial years (Per year)?

4b) How much is the tariff for YAG lasering?

4c) Is the trust under a block contract for the provision of ophthalmology products?

4d) What is the value of that contract for the last two financial years?

Details of the Response

Waiting Times and Surgery Volume

1a) In the 24 months to January 2018 (or to the most recent month available), what was the average waiting time in days (referral to treatment time) and maximum waiting times for patients awaiting cataract surgery through NHS Trust?

1b) i) How many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at the Trust in the last 12 months for which data is available?

2383

ii) How many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at the Trust in the 12 month period from January 2016 – January 2017 for which data is available?

2058

1c) i) How many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at the Trust during the last 12 months for which data is available?

2731

ii) How many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at the Trust in the 12 month period from January 2016 – January 2017 for which data is available.

2364

Referral Criteria

2a) In the last 2 years, how many patients underwent cataract removal surgery at the Trust?

2b) In each of the last 2 years, how many individual cataract removal procedures were performed at the Trust?

2c) Does NHS Trust operate criteria for determining the priority/eligibility of patients for cataract surgery?

Yes

2d) If yes to question 2c), please tick all the boxes below that best describes the criteria you operate

Visual acuity

2e) Under what circumstances are NHS cataract patients ineligible for ‘second eye surgery’ – i.e. cataract removal from both eyes?

Visual acuity

Toric Lenses

1a) Are toric intraocular lenses available for NHS patients with astigmatism undergoing NHS-provided cataract surgery at the Trust?

Yes

1b) If yes to 1a, please tick all the conditions and criteria under which toric intraocular lenses are available to NHS patients in the table below.

• >1 dioptres
• >2 dioptres
• The discretion of the surgeon

1c) If yes to 1a, how many patients have been fitted with toric intraocular lenses in the last 12 months, for which data is available? Please include information on:

• All patients treated at NHS trust - 1
• NHS patients treated ‘on the NHS’ at NHS trust - 1

1d) If yes to 1a, how many patients have been fitted with toric intraocular lenses in the 12 month period January 2016-Janaury 2017 for which data is available?

• All patients treated at NHS trust - 0
• NHS patients treated ‘on the NHS’ at NHS trust - 0

Self –Funding

2a) Does your Trust offer patients the option of paying for cataract surgery procedures (often referred to as ‘self-funding’ or ‘self-pay’), by which we mean cases NOT paid for by insurance companies but rather directly by individuals themselves)?

No

Other

4a) How many YAG lasers associated with cataracts have you performed over the past 3 financial years (Per year)?

No

4c) Is the trust under a block contract for the provision of ophthalmology products?

No

• Return to the list of requests for 2018