The independent, London-based ophthalmology clinic, OCL Vision, has announced that Dr Rabia Bourkiza has become the tenth consultant to join the team of eye experts.
One of the UK’s most distinguished ophthalmic surgeons, Ms Bourkiza is a vitreoretinal specialist that has been hired to bolster the clinic’s retina team. The retina service at OCL Vision is made up of a group of surgeons who between them offer an emergency service which aims to treat retinal detachment patients within hours.
Dr Bourkiza also serves as a consultant surgeon at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, and previously worked for seven years at the specialist Moorfields Eye Hospital. A Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, she has published 16 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and regularly presents at national and international meetings. She is also a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons (BEAVRS).
Her appointment comes as OCL Vision expands its operations across the board; in the past month alone, the London clinic received more than 3,000 patient enquiries and appointed seven new support staff, including three patient co-ordinators.
Opened in 2018, the independent clinic has seen demand for private care soar as the NHS wrestles with huge backlogs of patients after the Covid-19 pandemic forced hospitals to cancel thousands of ‘non-essential’ ophthalmic operations such as cataract surgery.
Data from NHS England reveals that in November, six million patients who had been referred for hospital treatment were still waiting to be seen – the highest number on record. An incredible 307,000 had been waiting over a year for treatment, three times longer than the NHS’s target of 18 weeks from referral.
Dr Rabia Bourkiza, consultant surgeon at OCL Vision, commented: “Between them, the team at OCL Vision have an exceptional breadth and depth of expertise, skill and experience. Above all, they are all committed to providing excellent care to every patient who steps through the door.
“Whether bringing clarity to cataract patients who’ve lived with cloudy vision for years or saving the sight of those who’ve suffered retinal damage, I’m proud to be joining the OCL Vision family and look forward to using my skills, and OCL’s world-class facilities, to provide life-changing results to as many patients as possible.”