Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average waiting time for cataract surgery in England; what strategies they are employing to reduce the waiting time; whether they have discussed (1) strategies for reducing such waiting time, and (2) cross-border cooperation on reducing waiting lists, with the Welsh Government; and if so, what the outcome of those discussions were.

In January 2022, the median waiting time for admitted ophthalmology patients between referral to treatment was 12.45 weeks. While this includes waiting times for cataract surgery, it does not measure it separately.

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme is increasing the adoption of best practice in clinical pathways and supporting high flow cataract surgery to reduce waiting times. GIRFT and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists are advising providers and the National Health Service is increasing capacity through protected elective surgical hubs dedicated to planned procedures. There are currently over 40 elective surgical hubs in England, with further expansion planned in all regions supported by a further £1.5 billion in capital funding. GIRFT is also identifying where trusts with capacity can offer mutual aid to neighbouring providers with longer waiting lists. GIRFT is also supporting partnerships between the NHS and independent sector providers to increase capacity.

There have been no specific discussions on cross-border collaboration for reducing waiting lists for cataract surgery. However, cross border support is already being provided in specialist orthopaedics.