A new eye care unit in Shoreham-by-Sea received a royal seal of approval today when it was officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex, GCVO.
Western Sussex Eye Care | Southlands opened at Southlands Hospital following a multi-million pound investment by Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
HRH toured the new facility, meeting with patients, staff, volunteers and supporters before unveiling a commemorative plaque and declaring the purpose-designed ophthalmology unit officially open.
Among those invited to speak with HRH was Mrs Edith Bain, an 82-year-old patient from Southbourne, who was blind for 70 years in one eye before her vision was restored by the trust’s eye care team.
Mrs Bain said: “The Western Sussex eye care service is absolutely marvellous and for me it has been nothing short of life-changing. Before my operation I was often nervous but now I have a new lease of life. Thank you.”
HRH met with Mrs Bain as well as her surgeon, Mr Masoud Teimory, in one of the two specialist ophthalmic operating theatres located within the new eye unit’s day surgery department.
Mr Teimory, who for more than decade was a driving force behind the development of Western Sussex Eye Care | Southlands, said: “We are very proud to offer access to some of the best ophthalmic assessment and surgical facilities in the country, matching our other excellent facility at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.
“We are confident that the impressive range of clinical skills, combined with the latest technology and clinical facilities, together with our ambitions for training future surgeons, will propel Western Sussex Eye Care | Southlands as a new clinical centre of excellence in the UK.”
More than 50 eye care specialists, including ophthalmic surgeons and nurses, optometrists, orthoptists and support staff, work there, treating up to 3,000 patients a month.
Staff explained to HRH how the new the building was specifically designed to facilitate ‘one-stop’ clinics and enable staff to work in new ways that reduce the number of times patients must visit the hospital.
Chief executive of Western Sussex Hospitals, Marianne Griffiths, said: “We are very proud of our excellent new eye care service at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham and delighted to have it officially opened by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex.
“Ophthalmology is one of our trust’s busiest services and this wonderful new facility helps our specialist teams to provide some of the very best quality of eye care in the country.”
Western Sussex Eye Care | Southlands is by appointment only, however, patients requiring hospital treatment can ask their optician or GP to refer them to Southlands Hospital.
Patients needing emergency eye care for a serious injury or eye condition should attend their nearest Accident & Emergency department.
