The NHS in North Central London (NCL) has developed proposals which will allow an estimated additional 3,000 eye (ophthalmology) surgery procedures to take place a year and reduce waits for sight saving surgery for some patients by up to four weeks.

Patients, the public, and partners are invited to share their views on the proposed changes. The deadline is Monday 16 October 2023.

The proposals

Two changes are proposed:

  • To create a hub for eye (ophthalmology) surgery at Edgware Community Hospital which provides surgery for adults for common, usually straightforward (low complexity) conditions like cataracts. This would bring together all eye surgery currently provided at the Whittington Hospital and some activity from the Royal Free Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital into one site at Edgware Community Hospital where a higher number of surgical procedures can be done.
  • A small number of complex eye surgeries and procedures that need to co-locate with other specialties will remain at both Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

Patients would continue to attend their local or preferred hospital for tests and outpatient appointments before and after having surgery.

Existing planned eye surgery services would continue at North Middlesex University Hospital and Moorfields sites (City Road Campus, St Ann’s Hospital and Potters Bar Community Hospital). Patients would continue to be able to choose which NHS trust they are referred to for care inside or outside NCL.

You can read more about these on the NCL Integrated Care System website.

How to share your views

Patients, the public, and partners are invited to share their views on the proposed changes and to feedback on how the NHS can provide the best possible experience for all patients, if implemented.

To share your views:

Please contact the programme team using the details above if you would like a printed survey or information in a different format, support to provide feedback, or would like to invite the programme to speak to your group or organisation.