Manx Care has announced its plan to reduce its waiting list for cataract assessment and treatment on the island.

The organisation will work with a specialist healthcare provider, Synaptik, to offer consultations, pre-operative assessments and surgery to around 350 of the 1,300 people currently waiting for treatment, with consultations and pre-assessments taking place in February, and surgery in March.

All activity will be delivered at Noble’s Hospital by specialist clinicians provided by Synaptik.

Manx Care’s Ophthalmology team has clinically triaged its cataract waiting list and has now contacted many of those patients who may be suitable for this treatment option to offer them an appointment with the Synaptik team.

The health care provider stressed that the Synaptik team may not be clinically appropriate for every individual on the waiting list, and that this programme of activity will not replace the current activity that is being delivered at Noble’s Hospital; instead, this will supplement the existing activity being there, increasing Manx Care’s capacity to see and treat patients and thus work to reduce waiting lists more quickly.