Optegra appoints national NHS training lead

Eye care specialist Optegra has appointed consultant ophthalmic surgeon Mike Adams as its national NHS training lead.

Specialising in cornea and cataract, Adams trained in various hospitals around the South East, most notably Oxford, Addenbrookes, Moorfields and St Thomas’. He currently splits his time between Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, where he has been an NHS consultant for over seven years, and Optegra Eye Hospital Surrey.

In his new role, he will manage and increase training across the whole group. Initially, this will involve overseeing training at Optegra Eye Hospital Surrey hospital, as well as securing junior doctors in Optegra’s other hospitals around the UK.  He will also provide educational support across the business, liaise with trusts on placements, and take responsibility for clinical governance.

Optegra said the move, which follows the launch of its fellowship scheme, cements its commitment to the training of NHS junior doctors.

‘Although private sector support has helped to reduce surgical wait times, which is a great success, it means that a high percentage of cataract cases are now completed by independent providers so naturally there are less cases within the NHS for junior doctors to work on,’ said Adams.

‘We want to offer training in the same way as the NHS would, so if someone is a trainee in an NHS hospital and there are not enough cataract procedures, they can approach their educational supervisor and ask for a placement at their nearest Optegra.  We offer high volume cataract lists across 12 of our 13 UK hospitals and clinics.’