Raising the benchmark for the 21st century—the 1000 cataract operations audit and survey: outcomes Consultant‐supervised training and sourcing NHS choice

摘要

PurposeClinical outcomes for phacoemulsification surgery are still compared with the almost 10‐year‐old benchmark of the 1997–98 National Cataract Surgery Survey (NCSS) published in this journal. Extraneous to the peer‐reviewed research literature, more recent databases suggest much better results may be being obtained. This offered the rare opportunity to perform an audit as research investigating if this was indeed the case and a new benchmark is needed, with the additional standard of rigorous study peer review by independent senior ophthalmologists. At this pilot centre for Patient Choice provision, all cataract surgery was performed on Consultant‐supervised training lists, a novel extension in‐sourcing care using public resources rather than to an independent sector that may not be supervised by NHS Consultants. Patient satisfaction was also surveyed. We asked whether the NCSS is out‐of‐date, and whether good outcomes on Choice schemes are compatible with Consultant‐led training within the National Health Service?