 Mobile units have been set up to reduce waiting times |
Patients waiting for cataract surgery in Kent will be among the first in the country to have eye operations in a privately-run mobile clinic. The unit has been set up in a car park on land adjacent to Maidstone Hospital, and is being officially opened by Health Secretary John Reid on Monday.
A South African company, Netcare, has been commissioned by the NHS to carry out operations to remove cataracts.
The condition affects 25% of people by the time they reach the age of 75.
Waiting times
Surgery for cataracts can bring immediate improvement in the quality of life for people suffering from the condition.
The operation is said to be relatively simple, but waiting lists are long.
Mobile units have been criticised by surgeons who predicted the move could restrict training and research, close smaller outreach clinics and lead to redundancies.
The Department of Health has said the units will cut waiting times and introduce choice for NHS patients.
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