Cataract surgery in the North East of England.

There has been good progress towards achieving the national targets on cataract surgery. However, there is considerable variation between primary care trusts (PCTs). • There were no breaches of the official target for waiting time from outpatient assessment to admission in 2002/03; 326 (2.3%) patients had a total wait in excess of 12 months. Mean waits varied considerably between PCTs and between trusts. PCTs continue to monitor waiting times quarterly. • Trusts in the region are implementing the recommendation that optometrists should directly refer patients requiring cataract surgery to outpatients. • Over 95% of cataract operations are carried out as day cases. • There is still scope for providing a better service for patients requiring cataract surgery. • Outcomes should be audited.