Staff and patients from Sunderland Eye Infirmary gathered at the site of the new Eye Hospital at Riverside Sunderland, along with leaders from South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and Sunderland City Council to celebrate the breaking of ground.
The new Eye Hospital will secure the legacy of specialist eye care in Sunderland, first established more than 200 years ago in the East End of the city and well before the birth of the NHS. It will replace the existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary facilities on Queen Alexandra Road, which were built during the Second World War and now over 80 years old.
All clinical services at Sunderland Eye Infirmary will move to the new city centre location, including the Regional Cataract Treatment Centre which will continue to play a pivotal role in helping to reduce waiting lists across the region. It is recognised nationally for the high-volume of surgery it performs.
Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Ken Bremner MBE was joined by Trust Chair Allison Thompson to lead the ground-breaking ceremony. He said: “This is a momentous day not only for the NHS, but for the city of Sunderland and our whole region. The new Eye Hospital will help us treat patients for decades ahead and provide a much better experience for patients and staff alike.
“We now look forward to seeing the building work progress and seeing the plans which have been created with the support of our patients, staff and partners become a reality.”
Ken, who is also Chair of the North East and North Cumbria Provider Collaborative says the new Eye Hospital has a big role to play in supporting the NHS in the region: We know that ophthalmology services are under immense pressure, with more than 29,000 people now waiting for eye treatment across the North East and North Cumbria.
“By building this new facility in Sunderland, we hope this will go a long way to supporting the wider NHS as we work together, through the region’s Provider Collaborative, to make sure patients get the speedy treatment they need.”
Sam Allen, Chief Executive of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board added: “Sunderland has a fantastic reputation across the NHS, both regionally and nationally, as a centre of excellence for eye services. The new Eye Hospital will undoubtedly be a real asset for our region’s NHS and it is fantastic to see how the Trust has worked in partnership with stakeholders and the local community to make it happen.”
NHS staff, patients and partners from the voluntary sector including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), have been heavily involved in helping design the new building. Among the patients who will benefit is 38 year old Michael Boys, 38, who lives in Morpeth, Northumberland.
He has been under the care of Sunderland Eye Infirmary since birth. He was born with congenital cataracts. He then developed glaucoma as a teenager and has regular check-ups as part of this ongoing care.
Michael said: “I think the new hospital will be absolutely brilliant for everyone who needs it. The only downside to the current hospital is getting there. I can get to Sunderland city centre easily enough, but getting from the city can be difficult, the bus isn’t always great or I have to get a taxi. The new location is so much better.
“Everybody you talk to at Sunderland Eye Infirmary treats you as a person, you’re not just a name on a sheet. From the receptionists, to the nurses and the specialists, the care they offer is very special. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for the treatment and care I get from them.”
Sunderland’s new Eye Hospital has been made possible thanks to strong collaboration between the NHS and Sunderland City Council. Kier has been appointed as the construction partner. The design development is being led by Ryder Architecture and Turner and Townsend.
Construction of the new Eye Hospital is expected to take two years. Click here to see a flythrough video of how the new Eye Hospital will look.
The Eye Hospital is one of a number of significant new developments at Riverside Sunderland, and part of a council-led scheme to transform the city centre. The award-winning urban regeneration project aims to double the area’s residential population and increase employment by 50 per cent.
The Vision Appeal is up and running to fund equipment above and beyond the kit which will be part of the hospital. More details are available via https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/our-charity/appeals-campaigns/vision-appeal.
Donations can be made to appeal through https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/stsCharity-Vision-Appeal
Source: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/news/latest-news/first-turf-cut-site-regions-new-eye-hospital-sunderland
