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Written question asked by Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 20 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. It was answered by Karin Smyth (Labour) on Friday, 24 April 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Cataracts: Surgery

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will set out the contractual requirements that apply to independent sector providers delivering NHS-funded cataract surgery, including whether they are required to accept an appropriate case mix rather than lower-complexity patients.

Answer

Independent sector providers are commissioned and managed by integrated care boards (ICBs) under the terms of the NHS Standard Contract which applies the same standards of oversight and regulation as are applied to National Health Service providers.

In the 10-Year Health Plan for England, we set out we would not tolerate ‘gaming’ the national payment tariff to cherry pick the simplest, most profitable cases. ICBs are expected to monitor this, and act decisively where they identify problems as part of a wider duty to safeguard and ensure value for taxpayer money.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
128453
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Finance Private sector Surgery Cataracts
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk