Eye health report reveals growing pressure on waiting lists in Derbyshire

Credit: Newmedica

New research has revealed that pressure on ophthalmology waiting lists increased across almost all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England last year, including in Derbyshire.

The report by from eye health business Newmedica found major disparities in access to eye health care across the country, with growing pressure on waiting lists with 86 percent of its clinics across England located within an area facing increasing ophthalmology waiting lists.

Commissioned as part of the firm’s Championing Eye Health: Patient Choice and Preventing Avoidable Sight Loss report, the research is the first detailed analysis of both ophthalmology waiting list pressure and disparities in access to treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and glaucoma across England.

The research focussed on additional patient referrals relative to completed patient pathways. By this measure, 3,141 patients were added to NHS Derby and Derbyshire waiting lists in 2025, with only 2,970 receiving treatment.

Overall, waiting list pressures rose for the majority of ICBs in 2025. Across all 42 ICBs in England, 80 per cent (34) recorded more referrals compared to patient pathway completions in 2025.

Mr Alex Brent, consultant and clinical lead, said: “The growing pressure we see on ophthalmology waiting lists is a clear warning that eye health in Derbyshire and across England is under threat.

“This isn’t a failure of clinical expertise – we work closely with the NHS every day and see first-hand the exceptional care provided to patients in Derbyshire. Rather, the increasing pressure on waiting lists is a consequence of a system under funding pressure and a lack of transparency which makes it impossible for health commissioners to prioritise need.

“The result is that many instances of avoidable sight loss continues to occur, often because care is delivered too late. Patients are being let down. This stark situation must be tackled through reform aligned to the 10 Year Health Plan which generates greater collaboration between independent and NHS providers and deliver genuine patient choice.

“By embracing this reform, we can create a new system which delivers high-quality consultant-led care at scale. In doing so there’s a real opportunity to increase capacity, increase treatment levels and significantly improve ophthalmology patient outcomes in Derbyshire and across the country.”