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Comment on: Experience and perception of cataract training within the National Health Service and independent sector in the UK: a regional trainee survey

Eye volume 37, pages 3697–3698 (2023)Cite this article

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Since the Royal College of Ophthalmologists supported cataract surgery training in Independent Sector Treatment Centres (ISTCs) in 2021 [1], there have been sparse reports of training opportunities at ISTCs. We note with interest the article by Chen et al, who published their survey results evaluating trainees’ perception of cataract training at ISTCs in the North East deanery [2]. We congratulate the authors for the study, but we would like to make some comments. In their study, only two trainees had observed/operated on ISTC lists; this may not be a true reflection of the quality and safety of cataract training at ISTC.

Between November 2021 and October 2022, East Midlands (South) Ophthalmology trainees were allocated to operate on NHS patients at ISTCs. We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey between June and August 2022, involving trainees and supervisors working at both University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and ISTCs. Data collected included cataract numbers, Likert scale ratings from trainees and trainers on supervision, training environment, safety/follow-up, and patient case-mix.

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Fig. 1: Total number of cataract surgeries performed by trainees at independent sector treatment centre (ISTC).

Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  1. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Three steps to sustainable patient care: RCOphth view on the independent sector and the delivery of NHS cataract surgery. Published online November 2021. https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/news-views/position-on-the-independent-sector/.

  2. Chen Y, Ting DSJ, Mansoor Q. Experience and perception of cataract training within the national health service and independent sector in the UK: a regional trainee survey. Eye. Published online September 2022:1–4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02258-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK

    Jennifer Kwan, Chung Shen Chean, Hamza Abdou & Antonella Berry-Brincat

Authors
  1. Jennifer Kwan
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  2. Chung Shen Chean
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  3. Hamza Abdou
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  4. Antonella Berry-Brincat
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Contributions

JK, CSC and HA wrote the letter and ABB conceived the idea for the letter.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chung Shen Chean.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Kwan, J., Chean, C.S., Abdou, H. et al. Comment on: Experience and perception of cataract training within the National Health Service and independent sector in the UK: a regional trainee survey. Eye 37, 3697–3698 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02552-6

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