In an exclusive interview with the Oxford Mail, Health Secretary Dr John Reid has dismissed claims that new units for routine cataract operations would threaten Oxford Eye Hospital.

Dr Reid remains optimistic

He said the new Treatment Centres (TCs), to be run by private firms in Banbury and Didcot, would reduce patient waiting times and create a better service.

The Mail has previously reported that Oxford Eye Hospital consultants feared the TCs would take over their routine work and associated funding, preventing the hospital from carrying out specialist work.

Dr Reid said that in the Thames Valley there were some 6,057 patients waiting for routine ophthalmic surgery -- 70 per cent of which were cataract operations -- out of 20,000 on waiting lists nationwide.

He said: "This is all about bringing the number of people waiting for operations down.

"It's about a better service. It's about ensuring people don't have to wait as long for operations, aren't in pain and don't have problems for as long.

"It will also free the Oxford Eye Hospital, which is an excellent institution, to do more complicated operations and deal with chronic conditions more quickly."

The Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust released a statement which said: "TCs should offer a way of increasing capacity in the NHS and speeding up treatment for patients.

"They need to be planned so that they compliment and work alongside existing NHS facilities."

Dr Evan Harris, Oxford West and Abingdon MP and health spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: "It's going to cost more and there's no evidence they they are going to provide a better service."