Patients paying for private eye surgery expect comprehensive care, including management of complications, but this expectation may not be met.
In the UK, private ophthalmology often involves three separate entities: the surgeon, the hospital, and the provider, each with distinct responsibilities.
A dropped nucleus during surgery illustrates the accountability gap, as patients may find themselves navigating different systems for complication management.
Consent forms signed by patients do not typically clarify post-complication management responsibilities or coverage, leading to confusion.
The fragmentation of care in private ophthalmology raises significant questions about ownership of outcomes and continuity of care.