Clinicians demonstrate surgical skills and share CPD opportunities on Stand E12a CHEC, a community healthcare provider delivering specialist ophthalmology services in partnership with the NHS, is returning to 100% Optical this year with a mixed programme that gives delegates the opportunity to get hands-on with cataract surgery, learn more about the company’s new CPD programme, and better understand the role of community healthcare provision in supporting patient choice. On stand E12a, CHEC is running a Cataract Dry Lab, enabling delegates to complete a capsulorhexis, the surgical technique used to create a window in the anterior capsule wall of the lens of the eye to aid cataract removal. Hosted by clinicians from CHEC’s UK-wide surgical team, Dr Moemen Elnawawy and Juan Alberto Lopez Ulloa, the Cataract Dry Lab gives delegates the chance to conduct the capsulorhexis procedure using surgical tools and artificial eyes. To help optometry industry professionals to better understand patient choice and navigate local referral pathways, CHEC will have a team of NHS Partnership Executives on-stand to discuss how community healthcare providers support the NHS in regions throughout England. Following the recent launch of its new CPD programme, which helps optometrists to enhance their skills, expand their knowledge, and improve patient care, CHEC will be sharing details of upcoming events. Ratified by the General Optical Council the programme of accredited CPD events has been designed to help professionals to keep abreast of the latest advancements and research findings in the field to continue to meet their professional requirements. For delegates looking to acquire CPD credits during the show, Dr Moemen Elnawawy will be delivering a CPD seminar on Sunday 2nd March at 10.30am. Held in the Optical Academy this one-hour session will explore ‘Global perspectives in glaucoma’ and all optometry professionals can register to attend. Commenting on CHEC’s plans for this year’s 100% Optical, Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Over the last 12 months we’ve continued to invest in the expansion of our hospital sites and further built on our ongoing success in training and professional development. 100% Optical is the perfect industry platform to share our latest updates as well as host practical experiences, like the Cataract Dry Lab, for delegates to get hands-on themselves. “It’s also the ideal opportunity for us to engage with industry peers about what we’re collectively doing to improve eye care for our patients, which has, and always will be our number one priority.” It’s that time of year again where Ramadan has arrived, a sacred month observed by Muslims around the world. It is a time of spiritual reflection, devotion, and self-discipline, during which fasting is observed for 30 days from sunrise to sunset. What is fasting in Ramadan? Fasting, known as sawm in Arabic, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Between Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and Iftar (the evening meal), Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and other physical needs. You may have heard these terms from your friends, colleagues, or family members who observe Ramadan. The fast is broken each evening with Iftar, while Suhoor provides essential nourishment for the day ahead. Why do Muslims observe Ramadan? Muslims observe Ramadan as a sacred month in Islam, marking the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is a time of reflection, devotion, and self-discipline, encouraging empathy for those less fortunate. Fasting serves as a reminder of life’s blessings and encourages kindness and charity. Nourishment and fasting Fasting for long hours can be physically demanding, making it important to maintain a balanced and nutritious diet during Suhoor and Iftar. A well-planned meal helps sustain energy levels throughout the day and supports overall wellbeing. Eat a wholesome Suhoor: Include slow-releasing carbohydrates like oats, whole grains, and proteins such as eggs and yogurt to keep you fuller for longer.Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water between Iftar and Suhoor to prevent dehydration. Avoid caffeine, as it can lead to dehydration.Break your fast wisely: Start with dates and water, following the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), then opt for a balanced meal with lean proteins, healthy fats, and fibre-rich foods.Avoid overeating: It’s tempting to indulge after a long day of fasting, but eating heavy, fried, or sugary foods can lead to sluggishness and discomfort. Moderation is key.Engage in light activity: Gentle movement like walking or stretching can help with digestion and overall well-being. How you can support your Colleagues during Ramadan If you work with colleagues who are observing Ramadan, there are simple yet meaningful ways to show your support and understanding. Be mindful of fasting hours: Avoid scheduling lunch meetings or team events centred around food during the day.Respect prayer times: Practicing Muslims may take short breaks for prayers throughout the day. Allow flexibility where possible.Adjust workload if needed: Energy levels may dip during fasting hours, especially in the afternoon. Offering support or adjusting deadlines, when possible, can be helpful. Show understanding: Fasting can be physically challenging, so be mindful that your colleagues might feel more tired than usual. A little empathy goes a long way.Educate yourself on fasting: Learn about what fasting involves, including that Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn to sunset and avoid making comments about food, hunger.Avoid assumptions: Not all Muslims fast due to health or personal reasons. Be respectful without making assumptions about someone’s observance.Join in the celebrations: Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a celebration. Wishing your colleagues “Eid Mubarak” is a great way to acknowledge and celebrate their observance. Whether you observe Ramadan or are simply learning about it, understanding its significance and showing support can foster inclusivity and respect. A nutritious diet can help sustain those who are fasting, while awareness and thoughtful gestures from others can make the experience easier. 🌙 Ramadan Mubarak to all those observing! Wishing you a peaceful and blessed month. CHEC’s new Canterbury site set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice CHEC has confirmed it will be opening a new hospital in Canterbury. Based in central Canterbury, the conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology, ENT, and dermatology services in the community. The new hospital will be located at The Riverside in Canterbury city centre. With free underground parking and excellent public transport links, CHEC is currently fitting out its new building into a state-of-the-art clinical facility complete with one ophthalmology theatre. Working with the NHS, CHEC has more than 30 community hospitals and 90 community clinics nationwide. The addition of CHEC in Canterbury strengthens its existing Southern England stronghold, which already includes hospitals throughout Berkshire, London and Hertfordshire. “Patient choice, exceptional care and equity of access are central to CHEC’s operations and ethos, which is why we’re proud to collaborate with NHS partners nationwide, helping to keep waiting times to a minimum while delivering the very best quality of care,” explains Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC. “For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge, and we can’t wait to open our doors and become part of the Canterbury community. In the meantime, we’d welcome any residents to get in touch and learn more about how we work with the NHS to make much-needed treatments more readily accessible.” Upon opening, treatments will be within four weeks of receipt of referral. To register your interest in the services we will provide at our Canterbury site, please contact engagement@chec.uk. CHEC’s new Macclesfield site set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, has confirmed it will be opening a new hospital in Macclesfield. Based in Macclesfield town centre, the conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and ENT services in the community. CHEC is currently fitting out the 8,102 square foot building into a state-of-the-art clinical facility complete. The new hospital also has nearby parking and excellent transport links, with Macclesfield bus and train stations located within walking distance. Working with the NHS, CHEC has more than 30 community hospitals and 90 community clinics nationwide. The addition of CHEC Macclesfield strengthens its existing North West England stronghold which already includes Warrington, Stockport, and Manchester’s Trafford Park. “Patient choice, exceptional care and equity of access are central to CHEC’s operations and ethos, which is why we’re proud to collaborate with NHS partners nationwide, helping to keep waiting times to a minimum while delivering the very best quality of care,” explains Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC. “For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge, and we can’t wait to open our doors and become part of the Macclesfield community. In the meantime, we’d welcome any residents to get in touch and learn more about how we work with the NHS to make much-needed treatments more readily accessible.” Upon opening, treatments will be within four weeks of receipt of referral. To register your interest in the services CHEC will provide at its Macclesfield site, please contact engagement@chec.uk CHEC Loughborough is set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice As one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, we are proud to confirm we will be opening a new Loughborough hospital in March 2025. Based in central Loughborough, the conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology, dermatology, and ENT services in the community. The new hospital will be located at The Rushes in Loughborough town centre. With excellent public transport links and nearby parking, CHEC is currently fitting out its new location into a state-of-the-art clinical facility. Working with the NHS, CHEC has more than 30 community hospitals and 90 community clinics nationwide. The addition of CHEC Loughborough strengthens its existing East Midlands stronghold which already includes Leicester and Nottingham. “Patient choice, exceptional care and equity of access are central to CHEC’s ethos, which is why we’re proud to collaborate with the NHS nationwide, helping to keep waiting times to a minimum while delivering the very best quality of care,” explains Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC. “For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge, and we can’t wait to open our doors and become part of the Loughborough community. In the meantime, we’d welcome any residents to get in touch and learn more about how we work with the NHS to make much-needed treatments more readily accessible.” Upon opening, treatments in both specialties will be within four weeks of receipt of referral. To register your interest in the services CHEC will provide at its Loughborough site, please contact engagement@chec.uk CHEC, a community healthcare provider delivering specialist ophthalmology services in partnership with the NHS, recently welcomed Marsha de Cordova, Labour MP for Battersea, to its new site in Wandsworth (Friday 17th Jan 2025) to share insights on how independent eyecare services can help free up NHS waiting times. Ms de Cordova MP, who is registered as blind, is lobbying for a National Eye Health Strategy Bill in Parliament to improve eye health outcomes, following the launch of her report ‘Changing Attitudes, Changing Lives’, which looked at current barriers to visually impaired people entering the workforce. Ms de Cordova MP has long campaigned for equal access to eyecare for all, declaring the UK’s current waiting lists for ophthalmology services as ‘an emergency’ in 2024. She visited CHEC Wandsworth, which opens soon at The Filaments, and met with CHEC’s deputy CEO Matt Currall, Hospital Manager Amy Notschild, Chief Medical Officer Des Breen, and Head of Partnerships for the South Steve Hunkin. Together they explained how the hospital – and the wider CHEC operating model – uses community care and a collaborative approach to reduce local waiting times by treating patients within four weeks of initial referral, and ease pressure on the NHS. With 30 hospitals and 90 community sites across England, in 2023/24, CHEC consulted over 374,000 patients, with 98% feeling satisfied or very satisfied with the treatment they received. Matt Currall said of the visit: “It was a pleasure to welcome Ms de Cordova MP to our new Wandsworth hospital, and offer a real-time demonstration and insight into how our processes and support team help to reduce local waiting times for vital ophthalmology procedures. “As an organisation, we echo Ms de Cordova’s stance on the importance of collaboration between all healthcare providers to ensure equity of access to high-quality care, because in so many cases, it proves to be both transformative for the patient and for struggling NHS services. We welcome the introduction of her National Eye Health Strategy Bill and hope it will be successful.” Marsha de Cordova MP commented: “It was good to visit CHEC Wandsworth to see how their innovative community-based service model is delivering better eye health outcomes for local people, as well as discuss how a National Eye Health Strategy would aid this work. “With the NHS under immense pressure and ophthalmology waiting lists eye-wateringly high, it is vital that we look at how we prioritise and deliver eye care, including through a National Eye Health Strategy, to get wait lists down and deliver better results for patients.”of her National Eye Health Strategy Bill and hope it will be successful.” Community healthcare provider marks major milestone for patient choice and equitable access CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, were celebrating earlier this week after treating the 5,000th patient at its Newcastle Gateshead hospital. Working with the NHS, CHEC gives local residents increased choice and improved access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services in the community. Cecelia Belisle, from Tyne & Wear, went home with the title of 5,000th patient after having cataract surgery with CHEC Newcastle Gateshead. With a referral to treatment time of less than four weeks, Cecelia was extremely pleased with the quality of care delivered by CHEC. Based in Gateshead Metrocentre, CHEC Newcastle Gateshead opened its doors to the local community and surrounding areas in 2022. Since then, over five thousand patients have chosen CHEC Newcastle Gateshead as their community eye and gastroenterology hospital. The hospital has also pioneered a series of initiatives that make healthcare services more accessible, including a free Home to Hospital™ pick up service and the launch of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). “Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and what a truly magical moment to be there when Cecelia became our 5,000th patient,” said Victoria Westgate, Hospital Manager. “Patient choice and care are central to our operations, and we’ve developed several initiatives that make healthcare services more accessible. But the most rewarding part is seeing the impact our work has on people like Cecelia. Thank you, Cecelia, and thank you to the CHEC Newcastle Gateshead team for everything you do, everyday!” Headquartered in Preston, CHEC has more than 30 hospitals and 90 community clinics across England, with a Northern stronghold through its Leeds, Blackpool and Accrington hospitals. To learn more accessing the community-based treatments CHEC provides with the NHS, please visit www.chec.uk CHEC marks one year milestone with community celebration Staff and patients at CHEC Milton Keynes were celebrating this week after the community-based healthcare provider marked its one year anniversary. Marie Bradburn, Mayor of Milton Keynes, also joined in on the anniversary celebrations, gaining a first-hand insight into the benefits of community healthcare, including improved patient choice, increased accessibility and shorter waiting times. CHEC Milton Keynes provides ophthalmology and gastroenterology services to patients across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. The community hospital has also succeeded in consistently maintaining very low waiting times, with patients currently able to access treatment in less than four weeks, dramatically enhancing their quality of life. “It’s hard to believe it’s only a year ago that we opened our doors and welcomed our first patients to CHEC Milton Keynes,” comments Bhavin Vadhia, Hospital Manager. “We’d like to thank Marie Bradburn and the local community for joining us to celebrate our first anniversary!” Over the last 12 months, CHEC Milton Keynes has pioneered a series of initiatives that make it easier for patients to access its community-based healthcare services. These include a free Home to Hospital™ pick up service and an online patient booking app. “We’d also like to thank all our patients for choosing CHEC, and trusting us to deliver the highest standards of care,” continues Bhavin. “Patient choice and reducing waiting times are at the forefront of the NHS agenda. Working with the NHS, we constantly look for new ways to make it easier for patients in the local community to exercise that choice and access the treatment they need.” CHEC has established a stronghold for community healthcare provision across the Central England region, with hospitals in Northampton and Stevenage. Throughout the UK, CHEC now has more than 30 hospitals and over 90 community clinics. To learn more accessing the ophthalmology treatments CHEC provides in partnership with the NHS, please visit www.chec.uk