Table 1.

Consultants' comments regarding pooled lists

Comment	No.
Technical problem	49
Complex cases are unsuitable for pooling; routine are	26
Different operating technique/standard of surgeons	16
Different listing criteria	7
Alternative strategy	27
Referrals to consultant with shortest wait	6
Find cause of disparity/proper finance/other procedures more important	6
Use pooled staff-grade lists for long waiters	7
Flexible sessions, clinic vs theatre	1
Pool referrals	4
Prioritize individuals on need	2
Pool new cases only	1
Devalues operation/operator	14
Increases disparity in workload (encourages lazy surgeons)	13
General practitioners or patients say in matter	11
Complaints/medicolegal	9
Suitability to particular unit/no need	8
Inefficiency (increases clinic visits/time elsewhere to see patient)	6
Reduced standard of care	2
Miscellaneous	9
I do more complex cases for some of my colleagues	1
Lead to competition to corner the cataract market	1
Patient care compromised, so only if waiting list long	1
Patients should be given the choice	1
Undermine patients' confidence by seeing different doctor	1
I've never understood the waiting list	1
Large geographic areas, not practical	1
Consultants could abdicate responsibility for patients in a pool	1
Lack of continuity of care	1