Report Mark Ladbrooke, Secretary SHA
As the Public Accounts Committee issues a damning report on the failure to deliver reductions on NHS waiting times (19 Nov 2025) we look at just one specific example where outsourcing services leads to a serious inpact on the NHS’s ability to prioritise and cut waiting lists in eye surgery – this is an example from one area. You can find out whats happening in your area using this excellent Centre for Health and the Public Interest look up tool.
Motion to Oxford and District Labour Party from the SHA. It was passed unanimously at the November meeting.
Oxford Eye Hospital: “You will miss us when we are gone!”
This branch notes with huge concern that our NHS Eye Hospital is being put at risk because of the health market in cataract operations. This is part of a broader national pattern. Government policy has led to runaway use of private cataract operations even at early stages of cataract development.
At Oxfordshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Stella Hornby, a consultant from the Eye Hospital reported to councillors that prioritising non urgent cataract operations for private profit made little sense as it did not make a difference to the outcome, where as delays to treatment of serious eye disease can result in permanent blindness. She reported they had already lost theatres from ophthalmology. “We see 120,000 outpatients a year and do thousands of operations. We have an A&E … And they also do lots of training and research unlike private providers“.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ (RCO) is calling for an urgent review. Our local Integrated Care Board which uses NHS public funds to buy in healthcare for local people, spent £14 million on private cataract clinics in 2023/24. Almost half was diverted to shareholder profits and debt repayments.
Actions: This branch calls on:
- Councillors to detail the actions they intend to take to challenge this dire situation.
- Our MP to do likewise and to back the RCO’s call for an urgent review.
- We pledge to support and publicise a public meeting organised by the SHA and other health campaigners in Oxford on this issue.
We must stress that this is a problem through out England – other eye hospitals are under similar threst.
The Royal College of Opthalmologists submitted evidence to the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry on Reducing NHS waiting times for elective care
Their President, Professor Ben Burton commented on the report:
“Ophthalmology is the specialty with the most follow-up waits and these appointments are crucial for managing long-term, chronic, sight-threatening eye diseases like complex glaucoma and wet age-related macular degeneration. Instead, we have seen a rapid and uncontrolled expansion of NHS cataract surgery delivered by independent sector providers.
“Patients deserve eye care that prevents avoidable sight loss and is delivered safely, consistently and on time.”
In addition our colleagues at the Centre for Health and the Public Interest have produced this high quality comprehensive report on the issue: https://www.chpi.org.uk/reports/out-of-sight-understanding-the-hidden-impact-of-cataract-outsourcing-on-nhs-finances
Further actions:
- We have written to Wes Streeting Secretary of State for Health and Social Care calling for action.
- At a recent meeting in parliament more MPs have expressed acute concerns about this issue and have asked for information about this campaign.
- We are working will our colleagues in unions and health campaigns in particular Keep Our NHS Public and plan to organise a public meeting in Oxford with Dr Simon Opher MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group. The SHA will, of course, support other local campaigns.
Very good local media coverage https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/people/youll-miss-us-when-were-gone-oxfordshires-eye-hospital-at-risk-because-of-uncontrolled-private-operations-5348267