A NEW purpose-built centre of excellence for eye care is being launched this week in the South East of England.

The Ophthalmology department opening at Southlands Hospital, in Shoreham West Sussex, will provide access to some of the best eye assessment and surgical facilities in the country, and will treat those with keratoconus, glaucoma, AMD, cataracts and other eye issues, specialising in outpatient services, diagnostics, day surgery and other types of what is called ‘ambulatory care’.

Western Sussex Eye Care at Southlands will open on Tuesday, June 27, after a year-long building programme was finished on time and in budget this month.

A Beautiful Vision

Masoud Teimory, consultant ophthalmologist at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There are very few brand new eye departments in the country built to such high specifications and we are very fortunate to receive a £7.5 million investment for this complex project that sets us apart from other trusts in the region and beyond. 

“Western Sussex Eye Care Southlands will offer access to some of the very best ophthalmic assessment and surgical facilities in the country, matching our other excellent facility at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.”

Mr Teimory (below), an renowned eye surgeon & corneal specialist, and a photographer, amateur poet in his spare time, believes ‘man is designed to seek perfection through “Vision”‘

A New Clinical Centre of Excellence

Chief executive Marianne Griffith said: “Last year our trust was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and we remain one of only five acute hospital trusts in the country to be awarded the health watchdog’s highest rating.

“This opening is another service where we will excel for our patients and provide them with some of the very best-quality care in the country.”

Up to 3,000 patients a month will visit the new unit for assessment or treatment and more than 50 eye care specialists, including ophthalmic surgeons and nurses, optometrists, orthoptists and support staff, will work there.

Consultant ophthalmologist Masoud Teimory said: “This will 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 this as a new clinical centre of excellence in the UK.”

The state-of-the-art building has been designed to be accessibility friendly and is all at ground level. The eye unit has its own main entrance on the west side of Southlands Hospital with access off the Upper Brighton Road.

The ophthalmology department at Worthing Hospital will close and relocates to Shoreham. From Friday, eye care clinics and operations will no longer take place at Worthing Hospital but patients can ask to be treated at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester if they prefer.

Mr Teimory said: “Moving our ophthalmology service from Worthing Hospital to more spacious and modern surroundings at Southlands Hospital provides our patients with a more comfortable experience as well as enhanced clinical care.”

An Eyeful of Art

This exciting new facility will also feature artworks from a variety of sources, for patients and staff to enjoy looking at, instead of the usual plain white walls in many hospitals. Check out the Instagram feed here for more details

Southlands Hospital in Shoreham-by-Sea provides outpatient, diagnostic and day surgery services alongside a new, purpose-built ophthalmology centre for eye patients.

For more information about appointments please refer to your local GP or here