Background

The demand for cataract surgery is expected to increase by 25% in the next 10 years as the result of our ageing population. A new pathway is being proposed to improve efficiency by utilising the new General Ophthalmic Services code 2.9 for community optometrists in Scotland for Cataract Referral Refinement and Consenting process. A pilot project has been undertaken at NHS Grampian enabling patients to be assessed and undergo surgery at a single visit to the Eye Outpatient Department.

Objectives

To determine the suitability of community cataract referrals for a one stop cataract surgery service and target areas for referral refinement.

Methods

300 consecutive cataract referrals were assessed for suitability for one stop cataract surgery, determined by the documentation of pertinent clinical findings. All suitable referrals were offered a telephone consultation to confirm suitability and those patients were subsequently offered on the day cataract surgery. A telephone led patient satisfaction survey was then completed.

Results

71 (24%) suitable patients were identified from vetting 300 referrals. 54 patients from this group were selected for one-stop service following telephone consultation. 51 patients subsequently attended for surgery. There was a 100% conversion rate to same day surgery and no intraoperative complications reported.

Conclusion

The waiting time was significantly reduced, by 30 weeks, for one-stop patients. Approximately one quarter of referrals were deemed suitable for a one-stop service. Many more patients may have been suitable for same day surgery but there was not sufficient information in their referrals to determine their suitability.

中文翻译：

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拟议的苏格兰选择性白内障服务重新设计——试点项目

背景

由于人口老龄化，未来 10 年白内障手术的需求预计将增加 25%。苏格兰社区验光师使用新的普通眼科服务代码 2.9 进行白内障转诊细化和同意程序，正在提出一条新途径来提高效率。NHS Grampian 开展了一个试点项目，使患者能够在一次访问眼科门诊部时接受评估和接受手术。

目标

确定社区白内障转诊是否适合一站式白内障手术服务和转诊细化的目标区域。

方法

根据相关临床发现的记录，对 300 例连续白内障转诊患者进行一站式白内障手术的适用性评估。所有合适的转诊都提供了电话咨询以确认合适性，随后为这些患者提供了当天的白内障手术。然后完成了电话主导的患者满意度调查。

结果

通过审查 300 名转诊，确定了 71 名 (24%) 合适的患者。本组54名患者经电话咨询后被选为一站式服务。51名患者随后接受了手术。当天手术的转化率为 100%，并且没有报告术中并发症。

结论

一站式患者的等待时间显着缩短了 30 周。大约四分之一的推荐人被认为适合一站式服务。更多的患者可能适合当日手术，但在他们的转诊中没有足够的信息来确定他们的适合性。