Norfolk patients set to benefit from new eye clinic

Eye clinic services are being expanded by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), at Grove Road in Norwich, after the Central Norwich Eye Clinic opened on 10th February 2016.

Additional nurses and optometrists are being recruited to meet the increasing demand for eye care. The new clinic is set to treat patients with conditions such as glaucoma, wet aged-related macular degeneration and those needing minor eye surgery. The NNUH eye service is one of the busiest in the country seeing over 100,000 patients each year.

Mr Colin Jones, Ophthalmic Consultant and Clinical Director Ophthalmology at NNUH, says: “With an ageing population the demand for eye care is increasing and the new clinic will boost capacity, enable patients who live in the city itself easier access to care, and help us to provide a timely service for our patients.”

“The launch of this new service is the result of a strong joint working partnership between Novartis and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust, and demonstrates our commitment to sustaining accessible and high quality eye services with the NHS,” said Hugh O’Dowd, Country President, United Kingdom and Ireland and General Manager, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. “We worked closely with the Trust to develop the new service, which will allow the most efficient use of resources by treating patients ahead of disease activity, delivering greater accessibility and increased capacity.”

The building has been refurbished to create three clinic rooms, each with new equipment, at premises previously used by NNUH for family planning services. The mobile eye screeners will also see patients at the new clinic. As parking on Grove Road is limited, patients are being asked to use city centre car parks where possible.

NNUH has worked collaboratively with Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd to develop the new facilities. Novartis works jointly with the NHS to develop accessible and high quality eye services across the country.

The design of the new clinic was carried out by LSI Architects, a Norwich based Practice, which helped to make improvements to the accessibility of the clinic premises.