Vision is often taken for granted in the flurry of daily life, yet it can have a huge impact on physical and mental well-being.

Michelle Naylor, aged 61, an active outdoor enthusiast from Blackpool, understands this all too well. Having worn glasses since the age of 12, Michelle has faced the challenges of impaired vision for over 50 years. As her eyesight began to deteriorate further, the effects of vision loss became increasingly difficult, affecting her confidence and happiness.

After being diagnosed with cataracts in early 2024, Michelle exercised her right to patient choice, choosing to receive treatment at CHEC Blackpool. Today, thanks to short waiting times, Michelle has regained her infectious zest for life, reconnecting with the activities, people, and places she loves most.

Feeling disconnected

Before her cataracts diagnosis, Michelle found daily activities gradually more difficult due to her declining vision. An avid reader, Michelle’s favourite books became overshadowed by blurred words and pages. Michelle was also worried that if her sight continued to deteriorate, she would need to give up driving, decreasing her confidence and independence even further.

Michelle’s active lifestyle also suffered. A great lover of nature and the great outdoors, hobbies that Michelle once enjoyed such as paddle boarding, countryside walks, and swimming became sources of frustration.

“I’ve always worn my glasses to do things like paddle boarding and swimming, so I’ve never been able to fully relax and enjoy them due to fear of losing my glasses or bumping into others,” explains Michelle. “As my vision got worse, hobbies became an increasing struggle, so I began to feel quite disconnected from the things I loved.”

Choosing CHEC

As Michelle’s concerns over her vision and eye health grew, she sought help from a local optician, who promptly diagnosed her with cataracts. After discussing a range of treatment options and providers, Michelle chose to receive treatment at CHEC Blackpool.

“My optician told me that CHEC has a fantastic reputation, amongst both optometrists and patients in the area,” explains Michelle. “I was also advised that I could be treated within just a few weeks of referral, so choosing CHEC seemed like a no-brainer.”

After choosing CHEC Blackpool, Michelle was promptly contacted by the hospital team to discuss next steps. Michelle then visited CHEC Blackpool to discuss the treatment plan with her consultant.

“The first consultant I met with was brilliant, really amazing,” explains Michelle. “The minute you walk into a CHEC hospital, you’re made to feel so welcome and at ease. The team were all very friendly. Everyone from reception staff to surgeons took the time to talk to me, which made me feel comfortable and assured.”

“Everyone really cares” 

In the summer of 2024, Michelle had her first cataract surgery at CHEC Blackpool, which she recalls as a positive experience.

“The first procedure went really well,” explains Michelle. “The staff were great and took the time to explain everything, both before the operation and during. They consulted me every step of the way, and didn’t move on to the next part of the process until they knew I was comfortable and understood what would be happening next.

“I thought to myself, everyone here really cares about my treatment going smoothly. When it comes to any kind of medical treatment, a lot of the time it feels like they just want to get people in and out as quickly as possible. CHEC Blackpool isn’t a revolving door of patients, they really do care, and it comes across in everything they do.”

Following a successful first surgery, Michelle organised a follow-up appointment with her optician. After such a positive experience, Michelle chose to continue her treatment at CHEC Blackpool. CHEC contacted Michelle ‘almost instantly’ to arrange surgery for her second eye. “They were straight onto it,” describes Michelle. “One really important thing to highlight about CHEC is how efficient they are!”

While Michelle felt extremely positive about the first operation, it didn’t stop her feeling nervous when it was time to treat her second eye. “Even though having my first eye was a positive experience, going into any kind of surgery is nerve-wracking,” she explains. “Laura Furness, an Optical Assistant at CHEC, could tell I was anxious and did everything she possibly could to help me, she even held my hand throughout the entire operation. That level of care is so hard to come by”

“It was comforting to know that the staff could tell how I was feeling, without me even needing to tell them, and they all did everything they could to help me feel calm.”

The team’s attention to detail at every step really made the care at CHEC stand out.

“Everyone was very caring and professional. I sometimes have back pain, and on the day of the second surgery, I felt quite uncomfortable on the operating bed,” continues Michelle. “They got me a cushion and waited until I felt comfortable and ready to start the operation, I didn’t feel rushed at all. These seem like little things, but they meant the world to me.”

A brand new world

On track to make a full recovery, thanks to improved vision, Michelle’s confidence and well-being have drastically increased, enabling her to get back to the hobbies she loves, and for the first time in her life, without glasses.

“My sight is amazing now, I don’t even need to wear my glasses! I’ve stuck rigidly to the list of do’s and don’ts CHEC provided, so my recovery is going well, I’ve even started driving again,” explains Michelle.

“My eyesight was terrible before my treatment, so my new clear vision has made a huge improvement on my life. I feel like I’m walking taller. Plus, because I can see so clearly now, I’m noticing more little things than before, and I’m so thrilled about it. I even get excited about being able to see my neighbour’s house numbers across the road. I can see so much further and so much clearer now, it’s like CHEC has opened the door to a brand new world for me.”

With her sight not only restored, but improved, Michelle is enjoying her hobbies much more than before. There’s no need to worry about losing glasses or bumping into anyone, which Michelle believes makes such a difference to her quality of life. “I’m visiting places I’ve been going to for years, and noticing things I didn’t even know were there,” she explains. “I’ve recently come back from a trip to Garstang, a place I’ve loved for many years. This trip felt like I was visiting somewhere completely new because I was able to see all the beautiful things Garstang has to offer properly for the very first time.”

A fresh start

As Michelle’s recovery comes to an end, and her confidence continues to grow, she already has plans to try new activities, visit new places, and truly make the most out of her new and improved vision.

“It’s like I’ve been given a new lease of life, a fresh start,” explains Michelle. “I wish I could have had this treatment 20 years ago! I wake up every day and think ‘wow this is wonderful’ and it’s all thanks to CHEC.”

When thinking about the whole experience with CHEC, Michelle is firm on her conclusion.

“CHEC isn’t a machine churning out patients as quickly as possible. Everyone is caring, sympathetic, and they genuinely want to make the experience the best it can be,” she says.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the staff at CHEC Blackpool, I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anybody. My advice to anyone who needs cataract surgery would be: don’t fear the procedure – just go to CHEC! The benefits it’ll bring are amazing.”

CHEC marks one year milestone with community celebration 

Staff and patients at CHEC Stockport were celebrating earlier this month after the community-based healthcare provider marked a whole year of working with the NHS to increase patient choice and reduce waiting times. 

Since first opening its doors in October 2023, CHEC Stockport has completed over 1,231 cataract surgeries. The community hospital has also succeeded in consistently maintaining very low waiting times, with patients currently able to access treatment within four weeks of initial referral. 

“It’s hard to believe it’s only a year ago that we welcomed our first patients to CHEC Stockport,” comments Erin Broad, Hospital Manager. “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 to exercise that choice and access the treatment they need,”

Over the last 12 months, CHEC Stockport 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 like to thank the local community for choosing CHEC Stockport, trusting us to deliver the highest standards of care, and for joining us to celebrate our first anniversary!” continues Erin. 

CHEC has established a stronghold for community healthcare provision across North West England, with hospitals in Trafford Park, Warrington, Preston, and Blackpool. Throughout the UK, CHEC now has more than 30 hospitals and 90 community sites. 

To learn more accessing the community-based ophthalmology treatments CHEC provides with the NHS, please visit chec.uk 

CHEC, a community healthcare provider delivering specialist ophthalmology services in partnership with the NHS has announced it is now offering innovative vitreoretinal surgery service from some of its hospitals. 

The specialised field of ophthalmology focuses on treating a range of diseases and conditions affecting the retina and vitreous of the eye, including epiretinal membranes (ERM) and macular holes, both of which dramatically reduce a person’s ability to live independently. 

CHEC has launched the vitreoretinal surgery service from its Trafford and Stockport hospitals and plans to expand it across more sites in coming months, to improve access and convenience for patients undergoing the life-changing surgery. CHEC’s state of the art hospitals are equipped with the latest ophthalmology technology including advanced imaging systems and the latest surgical tools, with a dedicated team of specialist consultants and highly trained support staff ensuring the highest standards of vitreoretinal care, before, during and after the procedure.

In 2023/24, CHEC treated more than 372,000 ophthalmology patients with an average wait time of less than four weeks.

Mahmoud Rabie, Clinical Director for Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist for CHEC, said: “ERM and macular holes create blurred and wavy vision, and dark spots, making it difficult to conduct basic tasks like recognising faces, reading and driving and ultimately affecting the wellbeing of patients. Despite the complexity of these conditions, many patients experience delayed care due to hospital backlogs, which can affect the clinical prognosis and increase the vision loss. Even though this is such a specialised field of ophthalmology, procedures last approximately one hour and require only local anaesthesia, meaning patients can have their lives transformed quickly and notice great results within a matter of weeks, with a speedier return to normal life. As well as our industry-leading technologies, our team of surgeons and dedicated support staff are committed to providing exceptional treatment while patients are with us, and offer all the advice they need to aid their recovery. We’re pleased to now offer these highly specialised services to the communities of Trafford and Stockport, helping improve their quality of life. We’ve received remarkable feedback from patients who are thrilled with the outcome of their surgery, so look forward to rolling the service out nationally in due course.”

For more information, visit CHEC’s Vitreoretinal surgery page.

CHEC Preston celebrated with patients whilst raising awareness of eye health and patient choice

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, celebrated National Eye Health Week 2024 by welcoming local communities to a free Eye Health Fair, hosted at CHEC HQ in Preston.

The Eye Health Fair was CHEC’s first patient open day event, promoting and supporting the importance of eye health in line with National Eye Health Week. The community Eye Health Fair educated local people, with CHEC surgeon Dr Moeman Elnawawy on hand to answer questions and share advice about the importance of eyecare and patient choice.  

Working with the NHS, CHEC offers local residents increased choice and improved access to much-needed services in the community. Based in Broughton Business Park, Fulwood, CHEC Preston opened its doors in 2021 and has since welcomed thousands of ophthalmology patients. 

A free, fun and informative day for all ages, the Eye Health Fair took patients behind the scenes of the community hospital, provided refreshments including coffee and cake, and hosted activities such as games, prize draws, and face painting. 

Local charities including Galloways Society for the Blind and Guide Dogs UK attended the event with their own stations, to share their services and knowledge with the community. Disability charity Scope supplied eye drops, hot and cold compresses, eye cleansing wipes and spray to support dry eye conditions and eye health. 

Antonia Fox, Hospital Manager at CHEC Preston, said: “The Eye Health Fair was a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with patients in the local community, sharing the importance of eye health, offering our advice, and raising awareness of National Eye Health Week. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and the Eye Health Fair really was all about the community. It was lovely to see the community come together to meet our eye doctors, explore the hospital, and learn more about the incredible work of charities like Galloways and Guide Dogs UK.” 

CHEC Preston is one of over 30 CHEC hospitals treating patients across England, helping to reduce NHS waiting lists and providing accessible and quality healthcare, in the heart of the community. To learn more about the Eye Health Fair, or share ideas about future community events, please contact events@chec.uk.

CHEC’s new site set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is ready to welcome its first NHS patients after officially opening the doors at its Headingley site in Leeds. 

The conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology services in the community.

With free parking and excellent transport links, the new clinical facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art ophthalmology theatre. Now accepting ophthalmology referrals, the Headingley hospital is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times by treating patients within four weeks. 

“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 the NHS, helping to keep waiting times to a minimum while delivering the very best quality of care,” explains Eleanor Rushforth, Hospital Manager at CHEC Leeds.

“For well over a decade, CHEC has been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge for local people. We’re excited to become part of the Leeds community and look forward to welcoming our first patients in the coming weeks. 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,” concludes Eleanor.

To learn more about accessing the services CHEC provides at its Leeds site, please contact engagement@chec.uk

CHEC’s new site set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of NHS community-based healthcare, is ready to welcome patients for cataract surgery after officially opening the doors at its Rowland Hill House site in Chesterfield city centre. The conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology services in the community. 

With ample free parking and excellent transport links, the new clinical facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art ophthalmology theatre. Now accepting referrals, CHEC Chesterfield is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times by treating patients for conditions including cataracts within four weeks. 

“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 Emily Greaves, Hospital Manager at CHEC Chesterfield. “For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge for local people in the community. We’re excited to become part of the Chesterfield community and look forward to welcoming our first patients in the coming weeks. 

“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,” concludes Emily.

To learn more about accessing the services CHEC provides at its Chesterfield site, please contact engagement@chec.uk

CHEC marks one year milestone with community celebration

Staff and patients at CHEC Sheffield were celebrating this week after the community-based healthcare provider marked a whole year of working with the NHS to increase patient choice and reduce waiting times. 

Since first opening its doors in September 2023, CHEC Sheffield has provided ophthalmology and gastroenterology services to more than 1,950 patients and completed over 500 cataracts surgeries. The community hospital has also succeeded in consistently maintaining very low waiting times, with patients currently able to access treatment in one week.

“It’s hard to believe it’s only a year ago that we welcomed our first patients to CHEC Sheffield,” comments Donna Taylor, Hospital Manager. “We’d like to thank the local community for choosing CHEC, trusting us to deliver the highest standards of care, and for joining us to celebrate our first anniversary! Over the last 12 months, CHEC Sheffield 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. 

“Patient choice and reducing waiting times are at the forefront of the NHS agenda. Working in partnership with the NHS, we constantly look for new ways to make it easier for patients to exercise that choice and access the treatment they need,” continues Donna. 

CHEC has established a stronghold for community healthcare provision across Northern England, with hospitals in Leeds and Manchester. Throughout the UK, CHEC now has more than 25 hospitals and 60 community clinics. To learn more accessing the treatments CHEC provides in partnership with the NHS, please visit chec.uk

Preston-based CHEC, has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare.

Earlier this year, CHEC was named a Great Place to Work for the second consecutive year having achieved an increase in employee engagement compared to its 2022 certification. Now, it has been recognised by the Great Place to Work programme as a true specialist in healthcare, making the 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare list in the ‘large and super large companies’ category. 

Great Places to Work said being on the list is testament to CHEC’s exceptional employee experience, and for creating a workplace culture where employees can thrive.

Amanda Williams, Chief People Officer for CHEC, said: “This fantastic news reflects the positive working environment we’ve created and continue to nurture together as a growing company. We have committed to foster a workplace where collaboration, well-being, and innovation thrive, and this recognition acknowledges everyone’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to provide exceptional healthcare services. We’re truly proud of the impact we’re making on the sector, and the lives of those we serve.”

To create the list, Great Place To Work administered their research-backed Trust Index employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based healthcare employees. The surveys asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

For more than a decade, CHEC has been working in partnership with the NHS to increase patient choice and provide access to timely care and treatment locally. Through its 30+ hospitals and 90+ community sites nationwide, CHEC makes specialist eyecare and gastroenterology services more readily accessible in local communities by offering patients greater flexibility and reduced waiting times. In 2022/23, CHEC consulted over 335,000 patients, with an average referral to treatment time of less than four weeks.

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work UK said: “Healthcare comprises some of the most fulfilling roles for employees, providing individuals with a deep sense of purpose and opportunities to make profound impacts on people’s lives during their most vulnerable times. But the sector does come with mounting pressures which our UK’s Best Workplaces in Healthcare companies are well aware of. By prioritising employee wellbeing at leadership level they are making a critical difference to the health and happiness of this vital workforce. Congratulations CHEC, for creating a truly ‘great’ workplace.”