Labour MP raises concern over effect of independent sector provision of cataract surgery

Ian Byrne has put the issue of NHS cataract surgeries being carried out by the independent sector forward for debate in the House of Commons, in an early day motion supported by 32 MPs

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Patient laying down and wearing a mask ahead of eye surgery

Getty/FG Trade

Lucy Miller

19 March 2025

A Labour MP has raised concerns about the effect that independent sector cataract operations are having on capacity for glaucoma and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) care.

Ian Byrne, the MP for Liverpool West Derby, has received support on his early day motion from Labour colleagues, as well as Liberal Democrat, Green, Plaid Cymru, Democratic Unionist Party and independent MPs.

The motion has so far received 32 signatories, with no amendments logged.

The motion highlights research from the Centre for Health and the Public Interest, which showed an increase in NHS cataract operations being carried out by the independent sector from 24% in 2018–2019 to 55% in 2022–2023.

Byrne went on to suggest that “the increase is likely to mean there are fewer resources available to treat other eye care conditions, such as glaucoma and wet macular degeneration, which are generally considered more serious and can lead to irreversible sight-loss.”

The motion cited the Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ Facing workforce shortages and backlogs in the aftermath of COVID-19 survey, which was published in March 2023.

The motion stated that, based on the survey, “67% of clinical leads in NHS ophthalmology departments reported that the impact of independent sector provision on patient care has been negative, and that clinical leads were most likely to say the impact of independent sector providers on their ophthalmology department had been negative when it came to training opportunities.”

It continued: “[This House] is further concerned that the use of the independent sector to deliver cataract procedures does not represent value for money in the light of the damage it is doing to the future of universal comprehensive NHS provision; is concerned too that senior clinicians have raised fears of NHS eye care deserts in the future, just as there are with dentistry, and that increasing numbers of people will lose their sight unnecessarily; and calls on the Government to carry out an urgent review of these matters.”

Byrne raised the early day motion on 4 March.

Early day motions are motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. No date has been set for Byrne’s motion to be debated.