
New deal between NHS and independent sector will benefit patients
PATIENTS will get improved access to timely care and treatment under a new agreement between the NHS and the independent sector, says NHS ophthalmology provider Newmedica.
The partnership agreement will help expand capacity and widen patient choice in England, according to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, helping reduce NHS waiting times. The deal will set out how more treatments can be delivered through the independent sector, with care remaining free at the point of use.
Welcoming the agreement, Newmedica managing director Rebecca Lythe says: ‘Newmedica will be signing up to the agreement because it is good news for patients and the health service.
‘Let’s also use this agreement, with closer NHS-independent sector relationships and collaboration, as a springboard to work on preventable sight loss and chronic disease management.
‘Newmedica champions patient choice and is committed to enhancing the availability of quality care. This agreement can help us in this mission.’
The deal recognises and builds on the existing important partnerships between the NHS and independent providers such as Newmedica, she notes.
‘Newmedica delivers a wide breadth of NHS ophthalmology services, with excellent patient outcomes and short waiting times. We also play a critical role in providing patient choice, which as the prime minister has made clear, is also vitally important.
‘Newmedica has the expertise and capacity to now do even more for patients and support the NHS through our consultant-led surgical and eye clinic centres across England.’
Ms Lythe also says that Newmedica is actively trialling the reduction of clinical exclusion criteria, an area highlighted in the report. ‘We strive to see more patients and ensure no one is left behind.’
Newmedica is also welcoming the agreement’s focus on training. ‘Training sits at the heart of Newmedica and growing the workforce resource for the health service,’ she says.
‘Across the dozens of Newmedica locations, all colleagues benefit from our investment in training whether that’s clinicians, managers or support colleagues across a range of bespoke in-house and external programmes.
‘We offer apprenticeships to new and existing colleagues, as well as training for other health professionals who are not employed by Newmedica, including valuable continuing professional development sessions for primary care optometrists.
‘Our training programme agenda continues to grow robustly, encompassing resident doctors, nurses/ODPs, optometrists, consultants and technicians in both theatre and clinic,’ she adds.
‘We’ve also been praised for helping improve access to cataract training in the independent sector in The Royal College of Ophthalmologists’ recently published second survey of its ophthalmologists in training group.
‘We are dedicated to developing our people who are not from a healthcare background, such as retail and service sector, so that we contribute to the NHS workforce strategy. This also ensures we have a diverse and well-rounded team to meet our patients’ evolving needs.’
The collaboration between the NHS and independent providers like Newmedica is essential for tackling the NHS elective procedures backlog and creating a resilient, sustainable healthcare system, concludes Ms Lythe.
‘We are excited to be part of this journey and look forward to working closely with Integrated Care Boards, the wider NHS and other providers. Together, we can significantly reduce waiting times and improve patient care nationwide.’