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Improving cataract referrals in Scotland: Developing a core mandatory data set for referral from community optometry for cataract surgery

Eye (2024)Cite this article

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Across the UK, the majority of referrals for cataract surgery originate from community optometrists. There is no standardisation of referral data, which risks unwarranted variation in access to surgery [1].

To enable a standardised approach across Scotland, a recommended mandatory core referral data set has been developed. This work formed part of a Scottish Government commission to review and improve cataract surgical throughput [2].

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References

  1. Public Health Scotland, 2022. Scottish Atlas of Healthcare Variation, surgical procedures. https://www.isdscotland.org/products-and-services/scottish-atlas-of-variation/view-the-atlas/surgical-procedures.asp

  2. NHS Scotland. Specialty Delivery Groups: Cataract [Internet]. Scotland: Centre for Sustainable Delivery; 2022. Available from: https://www.nhscfsd.co.uk/our-work/modernising-patient-pathways/specialty-delivery-groups/cataract/

  3. RCOphth, 2018 Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2018. Sustainable Ophthalmic Pathways. https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sustainable-Cataract-Pathways.pdf

  4. RCOphth, 2022 Royal College of Ophthalmologists, 2022. Ophthalmic Services Document. High Flow Cataract Surgery. https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/High-Flow-Cataract-Surgery_V2.pdf

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sustainable Delivery, Planned Care Team, NHS Golden Jubilee, Agamemnon St, Clydebank, G81 4DY, UK

    Helen Court, Jacquie Dougall & Janet Pooley

Authors
  1. Helen Court
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  2. Jacquie Dougall
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  3. Janet Pooley
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Contributions

HC led the design of the work, analysis of data and writing the paper. JP and JD contributed to the conceptualisation and design of the work, analysis of the data and writing the paper.

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Correspondence to Helen Court.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Court, H., Dougall, J. & Pooley, J. Improving cataract referrals in Scotland: Developing a core mandatory data set for referral from community optometry for cataract surgery. Eye (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02922-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02922-0

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