Thousands more people across Northern Ireland are benefitting from faster access to sight saving treatment as investment through the Executive’s Programme for Government continues to transform ophthalmology services.
Alongside significantly reducing cataract surgery waiting times, the Elective Care Framework is expanding capacity for time critical glaucoma services and delivering targeted reductions in waiting times for high volume adult ophthalmology procedures.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Finance Minister John O’Dowd visited the Regional Cataract Day Procedure Centre at Downe Hospital to observe life changing treatment for patients.
The joint visit recognises the significant progress made in reducing cataract waiting times across Northern Ireland achieved through Programme for Government (PfG) investment and reform.
During the visit, the Ministers were joined by Professor Mark Taylor and met patients whose lives have been transformed by cataract surgery and thanked the multidisciplinary teams delivering one of Northern Ireland’s strongest examples of elective care reform in action.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “The progress over a number of years that we have made in cataract services shows what can be achieved when we combine investment with reform and the commitment of our frontline teams.
“The additional Programme for Government funding is a welcome enabler in expanding the ophthalmology centre of excellence that Downe Hospital provides for patients requiring combined glaucoma and cataract surgery to restore sight. Further minimally invasive glaucoma surgery lists have now been added to the suite of treatments on offer thanks to the additional investment.
“Meeting patients whose sight has been restored reminds us why this work matters. Behind every waiting list statistic is a person whose independence, confidence and quality of life can be transformed.
“For many patients, cataract surgery is life changing. It restores sight, independence and confidence, allowing people to continue driving, reading, enjoying hobbies and spending time with family. Better vision also reduces the risk of falls and fractures, helping older people remain independent for longer and overall eases pressure across the wider health and social care system.
“Today’s visit is about recognising success, but it is equally about maintaining momentum. We know demand will continue to grow, and our focus remains on building on this progress.”
Finance Minister John O’Dowd said: “Behind every cataract operation is a person whose quality of life can be transformed.
“That is why tackling waiting lists is such a priority. Investing in services like this means more people receiving treatment sooner and experiencing the life-changing benefits that come with it.
“The Regional Cataract Day Procedure Centre at Downe Hospital is a strong example of how transforming public services can deliver better outcomes for citizens. We must continue building on this success to ensure patients can access high quality care as quickly as possible.”
Downe Hospital is one of three Regional Cataract Day Procedure Centres in Northern Ireland, working alongside Mid Ulster Hospital and South Tyrone Hospital to provide planned cataract surgery for patients from every Health and Social Care Trust. Together, the three centres have become a flagship example of elective care reform, protecting planned surgery from emergency pressures, increasing productivity and helping more patients receive treatment sooner.
The regional model has transformed access to cataract surgery. Urgent cataract waiting lists have fallen from more than 3,700 patients waiting over a year on urgent lists in March 2021 to close to zero today. At Downe Hospital alone, activity has increased from around 860 cataract procedures each year before the dedicated Day Procedure Centre model was introduced to 2,350 procedures annually.
The visit also highlighted the role of the Executive’s Programme for Government in supporting continued improvement. Through the 2026/27 Elective Care Framework, £80 million of funding is being invested to reduce waiting times, including £3.5 million to expand ophthalmology services, strengthen time-critical eye care pathways and increase capacity across vitreoretinal, corneal and glaucoma services.
Cataracts are one of the most common conditions affecting older people, and demand for surgery is expected to continue rising as Northern Ireland’s population ages. By 2027, there are projected to be more people aged over 65 than children aged under 16, while the population aged over 85 is expected to more than double over the next 25 years.
The Ministers concluded their visit by thanking the surgeons, nurses, healthcare assistants, anaesthetists, administrative teams and support staff whose expertise and dedication continue to transform the lives of thousands of patients every year.
They agreed that the success of the Regional Cataract Day Procedure Centres demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained investment, innovation and partnership, and that maintaining this momentum will be vital to improving access to elective care for patients across Northern Ireland.
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CLANRYE NEWS 