A Royal Devon initiative set up to reduce the post-COVID cataract backlog has been shortlisted in the Performance Recovery category at this year’s HSJ Awards.

Nightingale hospital developed the See-and-Treat Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (S&T ISBCS) pathway to allow suitable patients to have both eyes treated in a single hospital visit.

This has reduced referral-to-treatment times from 55 to 2.5 weeks, helped lift NHS delivered surgery to over 70% from 16% putting millions of pounds back into NHS acute services, and has resulted in 0% vision loss for patients.
 
The initiative has been such a success it has received national attention, and due to its scalability, offers a robust blueprint for sustainable elective recovery and improved eye patient experience across the NHS.
 
Mr Harry Roberts, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Cataract Surgery Lead at Nightingale, was delighted with the recognition.
 
“This pathway is helping patients regain their vision faster, with fewer visits, less stress, and exceptional outcomes - and it's only the beginning of what this team can achieve. Being shortlisted is a tribute to the dedication of our whole team, and to the patients who trusted us to deliver care differently”.
 
Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on 20 November 2025.

The Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards take place each year to recognise the projects, best practice initiatives, and transformative innovations that are shaping the future of NHS care.