1. Setting up a Satellite Cataract
Service

2. Setting up a satellite cataract service
Top 3 priorities:
1. Location
2. Equipment
3. People
Otherwise known as Resources
• Other considerations
• Options
• Planning
• Example satellite service costs

3. Location
Geographical area & demographics
Site/Building/Room
Theatre (scrub & prep area)
Patient area (admission/discharge)
Changing room (staff)
Stock room/storage

4. Equipment
Theatre – phaco machine, phaco handpieces, microscope,
operating trolley, instrument sets/single use instruments,
laying up trolleys, computers (Theatreman, PAS, EDN), lens
bank & storage, operating light(s), scrub sink
Consumables – cataract packs, gowns, gloves, caps &
masks
Pharmacy – eye drops & ointments, fluids (BSS bags,
normal saline, iodine)
Clinic – IOL Master (biometry), A-scan, slit lamp

5. People
Staff - Theatre (scrub, circulate & anaesthetic)
- patient area (admission & discharge)
- admin/clerical staff (notes)
Number will be dependent on how many sessions per week
but usually 2 x scrub, 1 x circulate, 1 x anaesthetic, 1 - 2 x
patient area, 1 x admin/clerical
Staff PGD/PSD trained to administer eye drops

6. Other considerations
Service users – patients (below ASA 2)
Outside services – sterile services
Procurement – purchasing & storage
Theatre apparel – scrubs
Pre & post op assessment
(clinic – consultant/nurse led, telephone)
Compatibility – if sharing equipment
(phaco machine, phaco handpieces & accessories)

7. Options
1. Run by their own staff
2. Rotation of staff from existing unit at hospital
(more staff required, transport considerations)

8. Planning
Organisation and communication
Finance
Strategic Management
Estates
IT
Procurement/Medical Stores
SERCO

9. ‘Some hospital eye services, particularly those serving large
geographical areas, run satellite services. Satellite services can provide
several levels of cataract service, and need to be equipped as shown
below:
Level 1
Diagnostic and follow-up clinics: slit lamp £10,000; lenses and other equipment
£5-8,000
Level 2
Pre-op assessment: as above, plus £5-6,000 for biometry equipment
Level 3
Day case surgery: as above plus phacoemulsification machine £40-60,000;
phaco handpieces £2,000 per patient and instrument sets £1,500 per patient
Satellite clinics can reduce the time and cost of travelling for patients,
though if a consultant is away from his/her ‘base’ hospital, he/she is
not available to deal with emergencies or to advise other staff. Satellite
clinics will need the right staff and equipment, and the cost of these
need to be justified by the number of patients treated.’
Taken from - Action on Cataracts: Good Practice
Guidance
NHS Executive,
Department of Health, Jan 2000, p16

10. Any questions?
Thank you
Terry Boston-Marsh
15th August 2016