NHS Tayside streamlines UK cataract surgeries with Lutra Health

In a press release, Lutra Health reported a 90% reduction in cataract outpatient visits. Image credit: ©Timon – stock.adobe.com

The National Health Service (NHS) Tayside announced that it has procured Lutra Health’s referral and triage platform. Lutra Health provides a digital platform for triage, referrals and community care management. The technology was tested with an 18-month pilot programme carried out at Specsavers Dundee, Angus Optix and Ninewells Hospital, all in Dundee, Scotland. During the pilot period, 1,500 cataract referrals were processed, according to the press release from Lutra Health.

John Ellis, MBChB, PhD, FRCOphth, MPH, consultant ophthalmologist at Ninewells Hospital and a high-volume cataract surgeon, led the pilot initiative.¹ Going forward, the NHS has procured the Lutra Health platform for use in all 40 regional optometry practices.

Per the press release, the project was launched to alleviate pre-operative bottlenecks, such as triage for cataracts and extraneous outpatient appointments. Instead, the digital system enables optometrists “to send e-referrals and automatically [engage] patients via SMS and email to capture medical history, lifestyle, and vision data.” Among the surveyed patient group, 85% had a mobile number and 95% completed a digital questionnaire. Additionally, the majority of the patients were elderly (65 years of age and older), challenging traditional demographic notions of digital health participation rates.

Lutra Health reported¹ statistics to demonstrate the clinical impact of the pilot:

• 90% of referred patients were directly listed for surgery, with no outpatient appointments
• This represented a 90% reduction in cataract outpatient visits
• 57% of patients were listed for immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery
• Referral-to-listing times were reduced, from 6 months to 2 weeks

“These results have transformed the way we deliver cataract care in Tayside,” said Dr Ellis. “By removing unnecessary outpatient visits and empowering patients to contribute their own data, we have been able to increase surgical throughput and improve the patient journey.”

Following the partner program, NHS Tayside is reporting the highest numbers of completed cataract procedures per day in the UK. In the weeks and months to come, the digital health platform will also be used to capture post-operative health data.

Charles Solanki (left, Lutra Health CEO) and NHS Tayside consultant ophthalmologist John Ellis, MBChB, PhD, FRCOphth, MPH (right). Image courtesy of Lutra Health.

Along with required National Ophthalmic Database information, the platform will record patient-reported experience and outcome measures. NHS leaders intend to use these additional data-collecting measures to improve surgical efficiency and efficacy.

Reducing patient burden is a major part of ongoing NHS initiatives. Earlier this year, SpaMedica began offering free, unrestricted transport to all NHS cataract patients regardless of location.² Previously, only patients who lived at least 10 miles away from their care sites were eligible for free transport. These actions fit within a 10-year NHS framework to reduce health inequalities and remove transport as a barrier for thousands of patients, particularly those in underserved, rural and low-income communities.

References

1. NHS Tayside pioneers record-breaking cataract surgery model with Lutra Health’s referral and triage platform. Press release. Lutra Health. Published September 22, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025.

2. Charters L. Nationwide free transport for cataract patients through SpaMedica. Ophthalmology Times Europe. Published July 8, 2025. Accessed September 26, 2025. https://europe.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/nationwide-free-transport-for-cataract-patients-through-spamedica