Pam Cox MP Visits Eye Clinic in Colchester and Backs Easier NHS Access

Optegra Eye Clinic Colchester welcomed Pam Cox, MP for Colchester, to tour its advanced facilities and witness the impact of its NHS cataract services on the local community.

Since opening in February 2024, the clinic has provided free NHS cataract surgery to nearly 3,000 patients, significantly reducing waiting times and improving access to vital eye care. The clinic’s partnership with the NHS ensures that eligible patients can receive treatment within just six weeks of referral, helping to ease pressure on local hospitals and deliver timely care.

Pam Cox met with Optegra’s leadership team, including James O'Shea and Adam Cockley, as well as clinical staff and patients currently undergoing treatment. She praised the collaboration between Optegra and the NHS, highlighting its importance in maintaining accessible healthcare for Colchester residents.

Pam Cox MP said:

"It’s been great to see the difference this eye clinic is making for NHS patients in Colchester. From touring the clinic today, I can see that patients who are referred here are experiencing the highest quality facilities with excellent patient care and impressive outcomes. Services like this one are making it easier for my constituents to access NHS cataract treatment quickly and locally, enabling them to continue to live their lives to the full.

“The investment Optegra has made in Colchester is already helping thousands of local people to receive timely access to cataract surgery as well as specialist advice on their eye health. While there continues to be great demand for cataract surgery, I am pleased Optegra and the NHS have an agreement to provide quick, free access to treatment in our city – this is a vital partnership to ensure waiting lists do not creep up again.”

Optegra’s Adam Cockley added:

"James and I were delighted to meet Pam at the clinic today.

“We spoke openly about the pressures the NHS is placing on the sector with its current changes to care and its partnership with the independent sector; and how this is negatively affecting patients. It was reassuring to hear that she shares our commitment to prioritising patient care above all else.

“Across England, we are eager to support the NHS and continue to be a dependable service helping patients avoid unnecessary waits for treatment. We are so pleased to be offering local people surgery at our Colchester clinic and providing their NHS treatment within just six weeks of referral."

Optegra Colchester Clinic Manager, Kate Tilley, explained the procedure:

"Cataracts affect around one in three adults aged over 65 years and are a natural age-related clouding of the lens of the eye. The only treatment option is a pain-free surgical procedure to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial intra-ocular lens, which provides clear and bright vision.

“Many of our patients are surprised at how quick the procedure is and the enormous difference it makes – like seeing the world in HD! To have treatment at Optegra Eye Clinic Colchester, patients simply need to ask their optometrist or GP to refer them here."

In addition to NHS cataract services, the clinic also offers private treatments including enhanced lens options and vision correction procedures. However, its core mission remains supporting the NHS in delivering fast, high-quality care to those who need it most.

Optegra Eye Health Care has performed over one million eye procedures across its 78 hospitals in the UK and Europe. It continues to be a trusted partner of the NHS, delivering more than 140,000 treatments annually.