Eye group looks to expand further
A visionary consultants’ group set up by surgeon entrepreneurs has announced plans to partner with independent practitioners as it extends its brand to new sites beyond its South-east heartland
Consultants behind the fast-growing independent eye surgery provider OCL Vision have appointed a chief executive to lead a strategic expansion.
Nik Rudge
Mr Nik Rudge brings extensive leadership experience to the business gained from his experience running a series of global businesses in the international events industry.
The surgeon-owned company invested £5m in cutting-edge ophthalmic technology in 2023 and grew patient numbers by 45% at its Elstree clinic, Hertfordshire, and 32% at its Kensington clinic in the past year alone
Now Mr Rudge aims to use his experience, and the objectivity and clarity of an outsider’s perspective, to continue to drive operational and service excellence as well as technical innovation.
He explains: ‘I questioned whether my work outside of healthcare would be transferable to what we do at OCL Vision; however, I now see the similarities.
Listening to patients
‘At the heart of the business is the focus on delivering a seamless experience, ensuring we have a team that is clear on what we are trying to achieve and the importance of their role in achieving it and, above all, listening to our patients’ feedback to ensure they have the best possible outcomes.
‘As a newcomer to the UK healthcare sector, I am able to ask questions and challenge assumptions that an industry veteran might not and we are already seeing this impact positively for our patients, our team members and our shareholders.
‘OCL Vision’s 80-strong team are peerless at what they do – the 128% growth achieved in the company’s first five years and 2,500 positive patient reviews are testament to that – but even the best businesses can make further gains by questioning the status quo.
‘Clinical excellence and fantastic patient outcomes are the cornerstones of what we do, and my first priority is to deploy more of the people and processes that make the entire patient experience seamless from first contact to surgery and aftercare.’
Surgeon-owned group
Launched in December 2018, OCL Vision bills itself as the only surgeon-owned, comprehensive private eye care group in England.
Last year, it held 12,000 patient appointments at its three purpose-designed clinics in London and Hertfordshire, with its Elstree clinic recording 45% year-on-year growth and its Kensington site growing patient numbers by 32%.
Almost 20,000 eye surgical procedures have been completed at OCL Vision to date.
In 2023 alone, the company invested £5m in medical technology and capital assets, giving its ten consultant surgeons access to ‘the latest and most advanced treatment options in the UK.’
In April it became one of the first clinics in the UK to perform a revolutionary new corneal replacement surgery called EndoArt.
Range of treatment
In addition to corneal work, OCL Vision offers a range of treatment options including laser, lens, retinal, glaucoma and oculoplastic procedures.
Mr Rudge sees the company’s goal as becoming ‘the number-one provider of personalised eye care in the UK’.
‘All our patients see a consultant surgeon who is a leader in their field right at the start of their journey, allowing them to choose a pathway that’s perfectly tailored to their needs.
‘We want them to feel confident in the exceptional care they will receive.
‘Looking to the future, we would like to offer the same exceptional care, and the transformative power of better vision, to more people.
‘We’ll be doing this in a number of ways: growing our existing clinics and expanding our footprint to new sites across the UK, as well as partnering with independent practitioners and helping develop a new generation of ophthalmic surgeons who share our values and aspirations.’