Synaptik cataract pre-assessment and surgery programme - FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why am I being offered an appointment by a Specialist from another healthcare provider and not by someone at Noble’s?

Even before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, healthcare waiting lists on the Isle of Man were lengthy, and with no clear plan in place to focus on reducing these. This was only exacerbated further by the pandemic. When Manx Care came into existence on 1 April 2021, it made a commitment to reduce waiting lists across a number of clinical specialities. It’s doing this by working with a number of individual companies who are supporting the organisation by providing a combination of both virtual consultations and treatment for a broad range of our patients.

It’s important to make it clear that this approach is not replacing Ophthalmology surgery being delivered at Noble’s Hospital; instead, it’s supplementing the activity that’s being delivered there in order to ensure that those people who have been waiting for treatment for a lengthy period of time receive the consultation and treatment they need faster, whilst also allowing us to transform the way that our services are delivered so that we can build a sustainable infrastructure that will future-proof the health and social care needs of the Island’s population.

It’s also important to understand that this isn’t an approach that’s being implemented solely by Manx Care. Using external companies and Consultants to tackle waiting list backlogs is the approach that’s being used by NHS Trusts across the UK too.

Please feel reassured that the clinical team at Noble’s Hospital will be fully informed of the outcome of your assessment, treatment and follow-up appointment as your patient records will be updated on Manx Care’s systems.

Will the team at Noble’s still know what’s happening with my treatment?

Yes – the outcome of your assessment, treatment and follow-up appointment will be uploaded onto Manx Care's IT systems and stored on your patient record. Essentially it will be the same process as per if you were attending a face-to-face appointment with a Noble's Hospital Consultant – there will be no difference at all.

How will appointments be conducted?

You will be invited in for a face-to-face consultation with the Specialist. If you are suitable for surgery, you will then have your pre-Assessment on the same day. Once that’s been completed, you will then be given a date and time for your surgery. To be clear, this will all happen on the same day to make the process as quick and easy as possible for you – we don’t want you to have to wait for a letter to arrive in the post confirming all of this for you. You’ll also be given an appointment for a follow-up with the Specialist six weeks after your surgery.

What happens if I need investigative tests? Where will I have them?

Everything will be done at Noble’s for you. If you’re found to be suitable for surgery when you attend your initial consultation, you will then have your pre-assessment. You may be required to have some further diagnostic tests after this based on your clinical condition and any co-morbidities you may have. This will all be discussed during your initial appointment.

Where will my treatment take place?

At Noble’s Hospital. Your face-to-face consultation and pre-operative assessment will take place in the Ophthalmology Outpatients Unit, along with your face-to-face follow-up appointment post-surgery. Surgery will be performed in the Private Patients Unit as a day-case.

Do I need to pay for any of this treatment?

No. No-one from either Manx Care or Synaptik will ask you for any form of payment, or for your bank details or any other financial details, either on the phone, in a letter or via email. Your treatment will be free at the point of care.

In the event that you are contacted by anyone claiming to be from Manx Care or Synaptik requesting payment for your virtual consultation, please do not make any form of payment or provide any financial details. Instead, please report this initially to the Patient Information Centre at Noble’s Hospital (call +44 1624 650103 or email pic@manxcare.im).

The team will then report this to the relevant authorities if this is deemed to be an attempted fraud or scam. Alternatively, you can report fraud and scam attempts to Ocsia or read further advice and guidance. You should let your bank know immediately if you’ve given away your account details or sent money to a third party and are concerned about that.

What is Synaptik? What does the company do?

Based in Scotland, Synaptik offers a range of medical services to Health Boards and Trusts to support their efforts to reduce waiting times for patients. The driving principle behind the company’s work is to ensure that any patient seen by a Consultant, Nurse or Allied Health Professional it provides has a positive and safe experience, resulting in a successful medical outcome.

Over the last ten years the company has increased the range of services it can deliver and earned a reputation for the delivery of high-quality services. Synaptik has extensive experience in the provision of Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic and ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) services, both in the UK and in offshore Island locations. Across the last four years, it has delivered 13,775 Ophthalmology operations for a number of Health Boards and Trusts.

Why is Manx Care asking Synaptik to provide this care and not conducting the work itself?

Even before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, healthcare waiting lists on the Isle of Man were lengthy, and with no clear plan in place to focus on reducing these. This was only exacerbated further by the pandemic. When Manx Care came into existence on 01 April 2021, it made a commitment to reduce waiting lists across a number of clinical specialities. It’s doing this by working with a number of individual companies who are supporting the organisation by providing a combination of both virtual consultations and treatment for a broad range of our patients. There is also a shortage of Ophthalmologists globally.

It’s important to make it clear that this approach is not replacing surgery being delivered at Noble’s Hospital; instead, it’s supplementing the activity that’s being delivered there in order to ensure that those people who have been waiting for treatment for a lengthy period of time receive the consultation and treatment they need faster, whilst also allowing us to transform the way that our services are delivered so that we can build a sustainable infrastructure that will future-proof the health and social care needs of the Island’s population.

Is this the start of the privatisation of healthcare?

No, it's not. This is simply how Manx Care is choosing to approach how it reduces its waiting lists and ensures that those who have been waiting the longest for diagnosis and treatment receive this as quickly as possible. The use of external companies to tackle hospital waiting lists is an approach that's being employed by NHS Trusts across the UK too, and so this isn't something that's being done solely by Manx Care.

How do I raise a concern on this?

The Patient Information Centre at Noble’s Hospital can support you with many of your queries (call 01624 650103 or email pic@manxcare.im).

The team is available as follows:

Monday to Thursday, 8:30am – 5pm
Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Closed during weekends and Isle of Man Public Holidays

The team operates a voicemail system during out of hours periods. They aim to respond to queries within 48 working hours of receiving these.

Alternatively, the Manx Care Advice and Liaison Service (MCALS) may be able to support you as well (call 01624 642642 or email MCALS@gov.im).

The MCALS team is available as follows:

Weekdays, 10am – 3pm
Closed during weekends and on Isle of Man Public Holidays

If a message is left on the answer-machine, a member of the team will aim to return the call during the next working day.

How long will I be waiting for my appointment?

You'll get the date/time for your face-to-face consultation appointment with the Specialist when you're contacted by the Patient Information Centre Team (if you don't have it already). Face-to-face assessments will take place in February, and surgery in March.

When you come to Noble's to have your face-to-face consultation with the Specialist, if you are suitable for surgery, you will then have your pre-Assessment on the same day. Once that's been completed, you will then be given a date and time for your surgery. To be clear, this will all happen on the same day to make the process as quick and easy as possible for you – we don't want you to have to wait for a letter to arrive in the post confirming all of this for you. You'll also be given an appointment for a follow-up with the Specialist six weeks after your surgery.

How will you prioritise who gets these appointments?

Our waiting lists have been clinically reviewed and triaged by our Ophthalmology team. Appointments will be offered in order of clinical priority (for example those who are deemed to be most seriously ill or in need of treatment), or patients will be prioritised according to how long they have been awaiting treatment (if appropriate) – it will be a combination of both.

I have more questions – who can answer these for me?