Outcome Capital has appointed Paul Ryb as managing director to lead its newly established ophthalmology practice.

Ryb has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking, capital markets and venture capital, and has spent the past 15 years focused on ophthalmic innovation. His previous roles include managing director positions at Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest Group) and other major banks. He has also served on boards including the NHS and Royal National Institute of the Blind. He was vice chair of the Macular Society UK for 12 years and sits on the investment committee for Fight for Sight, the UK’s largest supporter of ophthalmic research grants.

He holds an economics degree from the University of Manchester and is certified by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. Outside his professional work, he is a world and British champion in visually impaired tennis and holds a black belt in Xen-Do kickboxing.

Oded Ben-Joseph, managing partner at Outcome Capital, said: ‘This appointment aligns with Outcome’s strategy to address the rapidly growing ophthalmology segment through the first dedicated ophthalmology practice in the market to address eye disease, the leading cause of disability.’

According to Ben-Joseph, Ryb’s insight will strengthen the firm’s capabilities to assist innovative ophthalmology companies in their demand for venture support and implement de-risking strategies, such as broader access to strategic opportunities, robust market intelligence, and seamless deal structuring.

‘Paul has already exemplified these strengths, notably through his role in the Bausch + Lomb acquisition of ELIOS Vision, and in his support of numerous financings for ophthalmic ventures in collaboration with key strategics and venture capitalists,’ he added.

Commenting on his new role, Ryb said: ‘Establishing such a differentiated and specialised Ophthalmic Investment Banking Advisory Group will allow us to deliver real patient outcomes and move closer to solving one of the world’s greatest unmet needs – sight-loss.

‘By integrating my experience with Outcome’s track record and deep expertise in ophthalmology for sourcing innovation, financing and successful exits, we are uniquely positioned to deliver on our mission to support the most promising ophthalmology innovation programmes through every stage of development and ultimately drive real patient outcomes.’

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AXA Health has called on the government and employers to implement targeted measures to tackle rising economic inactivity linked to poor health, warning that the UK workforce faces significant challenges without urgent intervention.

In a new report, Health and Work: Improving the resilience of the UK workforce, the insurer identified three priority areas for action, estimating that successful implementation could deliver economic benefits of up to £1.3bn annually.

The report comes ahead of the government’s Keep Britain Working Review, which is expected to set out proposals for reducing health-related economic inactivity.

AXA Health CEO Heather Smith said: ‘The health of the UK workforce is not just a social issue, it’s economically imperative that it is prioritised. Our research shows that with the right policies and employer action, we can support healthier lives, reduce costs to employers and improve the UK economy. It’s time to move from awareness to action.’

The report, produced in partnership with WPI Economics, assessed more than 30 policy interventions and concluded that three measures could deliver the most significant impact: greater transparency on workplace health; mental health training for line managers; and improved mental health support in schools and colleges.

On transparency, the report says large companies should be required to disclose  how they support employee health. It estimates that a 25% increase in the use of insurance-based health solutions could generate economic benefits of £750m a year.

In addition, the report concludes that standardised mental health training for managers and grants to help small and medium-sized enterprises implement support could reduce sickness absence and improve productivity, potentially saving £175m annually.

It also argues that rising mental health issues among children are placing strain on working parents. Expanding mental health resources in education, including senior mental health leads and mandatory health education for post-16 students, could deliver £400m a year in savings to employers if even 5% of associated costs were reduced.

Over 2.8 million working-age people in the UK are currently inactive due to long-term illness, according to the report, while there has been a 77% rise in work-limiting health conditions among 16–24-year-olds over the past decade.

Smith added: ‘We urge the government to adopt these pragmatic, high-impact interventions to begin to address the issue and provide tangible benefits for businesses, individuals and taxpayers. Building on the health and wellbeing support many businesses including AXA already provide for their employees, we can keep Britain working and ensure our economy is supported by a resilient, healthy workforce.’

Joe Ahern, director of policy at WPI Economics, said: ‘The workforce health crisis is increasingly well-understood but the challenge is to translate that understanding into tangible action. Based on a comprehensive analysis of potential policy solutions, this report recommends three practical steps that can be taken to begin to shift the dial. Critical to the success of all of these policies will be effective collaboration and partnership between employers, government, and the insurance sector.’

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Ophthalmology provider SpaMedica has removed mileage limits on its free transport service for NHS cataract patients, aiming to improve access to care for individuals who face difficulties travelling to appointments.

With immediate effect, all NHS cataract patients treated by SpaMedica will be eligible for complimentary transport to and from hospital, regardless of how far they live from one of its sites. The company previously required patients to live at least ten miles away to qualify for free transport.

The decision is intended to align with the NHS’s 10-year Plan to reduce health inequalities and deliver more community-based care. SpaMedica said the lack of affordable or accessible transport remains a significant barrier for some patients, particularly those in rural areas or on low incomes.

Between April 2024 and March 2025, more than 33,000 NHS cataract patients used SpaMedica’s transport service, with drivers covering around 1.8 million miles over the year.

Tom Fellows, head of policy and value proposition at SpaMedica, said: ‘Not everyone has a friend or family member who is available to take them to and from their appointments, and taxis are an expense many patients can’t afford. Some of our patients also live in rural areas without regular access to public transport.’

SpaMedica operates 64 eye hospitals across the UK and has recently launched community diagnostic and treatment centres to allow patients to attend pre- and post-operative appointments closer to home.

Nuffield Health is rolling out advanced mammography technology across its hospitals in response to new research highlighting persistent barriers preventing women from attending breast cancer screenings.

The charitable hospital group has begun installing new diagnostic equipment at its hospitals in Cheltenham and Chester, with further sites including Wessex, Cardiff Vale and Oxford due to follow over the summer. The investment is part of a £200m partnership with GE HealthCare to upgrade diagnostic imaging across Nuffield’s UK hospital network.

The announcement follows survey data commissioned by Nuffield Health, which found that more than a third (36%) of women would be reluctant to seek medical support even if they discovered a breast lump or abnormality. One in ten women surveyed said they had actually found a lump or abnormality but did not seek medical help. Anxiety was the most common reason cited for avoiding screening, mentioned by 26% of respondents, while almost 15% expressed concerns about discomfort.

Among women who have previously undergone a mammogram, 40% reported experiencing pain.

Claudia Harding-Mackean, consultant breast surgeon at Nuffield Health Chester Hospital, said the findings were ‘concerning but, sadly, not surprising’.

‘For many women, breast checks can be an “out of sight, out of mind” issue,’ she said. ‘Screening and early diagnosis can make a life-changing difference. It’s vital to raise awareness of how much breast cancer diagnostics and treatment have improved. The earlier we can detect any changes, the better the chances of a positive outcome.’

The new mammography equipment features 3D imaging technology offering a clearer view of breast tissue at the same low radiation dose as traditional 2D scans. Machines are designed to move and adapt around the patient’s body to reduce discomfort during screening, while some units are equipped with guided biopsy functions, allowing tissue samples to be taken during the same appointment. Nuffield Health said this could help reduce waiting times and avoid additional hospital visits.

Kate Liddington, hospital director at Nuffield Health Cheltenham Hospital, said the investment aimed to make screening ‘more comfortable and less intimidating’ to address barriers deterring women from attending appointments.

‘These machines adjust to the patient, require less compression on the breast, and take images faster,’ she said. ‘Image quality is improving all the time, ensuring our consultants can provide accurate diagnosis with greater confidence, and women receive the answers they need sooner.’

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, with one woman diagnosed every ten minutes. While survival rates have improved significantly, screening coverage has declined since 2019, with 64.6% of eligible women attending NHS screening in 2022-23.

Nuffield Health’s investment forms part of its wider collaboration with GE HealthCare, which includes introducing AI-enabled diagnostic imaging across its hospitals. The partnership also involves measures to reduce the environmental impact of equipment, such as limiting the use of rare materials and improving recyclability and energy efficiency.

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