£1m gifted for new eye health centre

Oriel aims to be “an exemplar for patient care worldwide”

Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital, the charity providing volunteer support and patient experience services at Moorfields Eye Hospital, has pledged £1m to Moorfields Eye Charity towards a new centre for advancing eye health, opening in 2027.

Oriel is the joint partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity, which will move services from Islington to a new, integrated centre in St Pancras, Camden.

Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital manages more than 300 volunteers, providing services including directions on arrival, guidance around the hospital, behind-the-scenes assistance in the pharmacy, and a hand-holding service giving trained emotional support to patients during procedures. Friends also operates the Health Information Hub, where patients can access information about their eye conditions and discover how to access relevant services. It will continue to provide this practical and emotional support in the new centre.

The new centre has been co-designed with patients, staff and partners “to create the highest quality patient experience in an accessible environment” – “an exemplar for patient care worldwide”.

Patient services will be at heart of new facility

Angela Smith, chief executive of Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “We’re delighted to support this pioneering eye centre of the future. Our gift is an important part of our vision and it emphasises the vital role Friends of Moorfields plays in ensuring the new centre delivers an outstanding experience for patients – a leading model in the NHS which will reach even more people around the world.”

Robert Dufton, chief executive of Moorfields Eye Charity, commented: “We’re so very grateful to the Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital for their donation. This gift is helping to make the new centre possible – with patients’ needs at its heart. It will enable the highest standards for patient care with the best clinicians, researchers and educators working together. It will help to save people’s sight and change lives.”

Renewable energy is being used in the construction of the centre, working towards meeting NHS and UCL net zero targets and sustainability goals.

Moorfields Eye Charity and UCL are working in partnership on a fundraising campaign to support Oriel, the joint partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity.