Fears over privatisation of NHS eye services

A committee in Oxfordshire has called for a review into the use of private providers for eye care after raising concerns about their "destabilising impact" on NHS services.

Oxfordshire's Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) said private providers were "prioritising profitable procedures", such as cataract operations.

A letter sent to government by the committee said there was a danger of "distorting clinical priorities".

The Department of Health said it would not tolerate independent healthcare providers "cherry-picking cases".

The letter from JHOSC acknowledged that, for some, using private providers cut waiting times - but warned it was at the expense of "comprehensive care for complex and sight-threatening conditions".

It said: "Whilst this gives patients of non-complex procedures greater choice and shorter waiting times, this is having a destabilising impact on wider NHS Trust Ophthalmology services and was distorting clinical priorities."

Keep Our NHS Public Oxfordshire said they had concerns about the impact on patients - and the future viability of the Oxford Eye Hospital.

Joan Stewart, from the campaign group, said: "There's been a rapid rise in private NHS funded cataract clinics and they have been taking on most of the cataract surgery across our area.

"And these clinics make eye-watering profits from a relatively low-risk operation.

"What this means is that fewer cataracts are being done at the Oxford Eye Hospital.

"That matters to us because the eye department loses the income from the cataracts, and that has a knock-on effect on services, especially the capacity to bring down the waiting lists for sight-threatening conditions that have to be treated swiftly and for vital follow-up care for patients with chronic eye conditions.

"If they don't get that care, there's a real risk of them losing their sight."

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board said it had "no plans" to decommission the Oxford Eye Hospital, on the John Radcliffe site.

It added: "The hospital provides essential ophthalmology services for a range of conditions, including specialist treatments such as corneal grafts, for local people and the wider region.

"We continue to work closely with all our local providers to ensure ongoing provision of eye care services."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that independent healthcare providers played an "important role" in helping cut waiting times.

A statement said: "All providers must follow the same rules and standards as NHS organisations, including consistent pricing and quality of care.

"We will not tolerate cherry-picking cases or delivering poor-quality treatment."

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