Today, the health care system in the United Kingdom is still dealing with the after effects of the coronavirus pandemic, over and above serious staff shortages and underfunding. The RCOphth Workforce Census 2022 provided some valuable insights into the problems that need addressing.

The workforce shortages are high, relying on locums, while seventy six percent of NHS ophthalmology units don't have enough consultants to meet demand. Since 2018, there are over two hundred thousand more consultants that have patients referred to them. This is a strain on the system and something all ophthalmologists have seen in the past five years. COVID-19 added to the pressures, resulting in a backlog of patients.

In England, there is a growing role of independent providers delivering NHS cataract procedures. This was twenty percent in 2018 and is now fifty percent. Independent sector capacity was commissioned during the coronavirus when NHS services were not available. The trend has continued, helping reduce cataract waiting lists.

In 2021, Public Health England advised that England has approximately 2.5 consultant ophthalmologists to one hundred thousand people, which is below the recommended 3.5 consultant ophthalmologists. This means that England needs an additional two hundred and fifty consultant ophthalmologists.

Ray Man, the PA for Mahi Muqit, a leading consultant ophthalmologist at Harley Street Eye Clinic, said “Our society is ageing at a rapid rate and the shortfall of consultant ophthalmologists is going to become more severe moving forward. Different geographical locations increase inequalities of care. With the pandemic, there was a forty percent decline in cataract procedures and thirty eight percent reduction in opthalmologists seeing outpatients. This was a huge change. Ophthalmologists were on hand to manage high risk patients. As a result, the backlog of patients waiting for consultant ophthalmology services has risen exponentially in 2023.”

The biggest challenge facing the NHS is retaining ophthalmologists. Sixty seven percent have found it difficult to retain ophthalmologists, when compared to the previous twelve months. The main reasons included burnout, under resourced departments and retirement. Two thirds of hospital units are relying on locums to fill consultant vacancies with fifty percent having used locums in the past twelve months.

About Us:

Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/.