CHEC opening marks 50th eye surgery

Mr Holmes and his wife Sheila with hospital manager, Christopher Randall, and Marta Chivu, theatre practitioner

Community-based ophthalmology service provider CHEC has marked a clinical milestone after treating its first surgical eye patients at its new Sheffield hospital.

Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC is helping to reduce waiting times in and around Sheffield by making treatments more accessible.

Jose Bailey, CHEC commercial director, said: “Patient choice and care are front and centre of our operations at CHEC, and we’ve developed a wide range of initiatives to make it easier for people to access the healthcare services they need. But the most rewarding part is seeing the impact our community-based healthcare has on local people.”

Based in a new state-of the-art treatment centre at Sheffield Business Park, the community care facility opened mid-September and has completed more than 50 appointments.

One of the first patients to benefit from CHEC’s community cataract procedures was Jeremy Holmes.

Aged 79, Mr Holmes was referred to CHEC after waiting more than six months since his initial diagnosis, utilising the company’s Home to Hospital service to take him door to door.

“Not being able to see properly has had a serious impact on my quality of life,” he said. “I used to live a very active life and wouldn’t think twice about driving up to Cumbria to go salmon fishing – one of my biggest passions.

“Losing sight in both eyes has left me reliant on friends to take me places, and unable to go fishing independently. I can’t wait to get that independence and freedom back,” he added.