From studying law in Poland to leading high-impact healthcare strategies in the UK, Iwona Ngody’s journey is defined by a singular focus: helping people. As Director of NHS Public Services, Iwona brings together strong commercial acumen and a genuine commitment to patient care. She works to ensure services are designed sustainably and delivered efficiently, while maintaining a clear focus on improving access to high‑quality treatment for all patients, regardless of where they live. From Law to Healthcare Iwona’s career began in an entirely different field. After earning a Master’s degree in Law in Poland, she moved to the UK in 2006 with her husband and young daughter. While she originally envisaged a life in the courtroom, her desire to advocate for others found a new home in the healthcare sector. Starting as a sexual health supervisor, Iwona spent 16 years progressing through various “ologies”—including ophthalmology and dermatology—before joining the team at CHEC. “I’m not a lawyer in the UK, but the main objectives of helping people and treating patients the way I want to be treated remain the same. I found the work incredibly rewarding.” Driving Change and Reducing Waiting Times In her current role, Iwona oversees our NHS offering, focusing on core services such as ophthalmology, gastroenterology, ENT, and dermatology. Her work is a blend of operational refinement and long-term strategy, aimed at delivering more equitable services and creating meaningful, sustainable improvements across local health economies. One of her proudest recent achievements is the mobilisation of the Mid South Essex (MSE) dermatology service. This was a complex, high-risk project involving urgent cancer referral pathways in an area where CHEC didn’t have a physical hospital presence. “The MSE project was a true testament to teamwork,” Iwona explains. “Within one month, we saw a significant decrease in hospital referrals and cleared backlogs that were weeks overdue. It proved that when we pull together—from IT infrastructure to clinical resourcing—we can make an immediate impact on patient lives.” A Culture of Collaboration For Iwona, the magic of working at CHEC lies in the lack of hierarchy when a job needs to be done. Whether it’s redesigning an EPR system or resolving a teething issue for a Trust, she thrives on the “all hands on deck” mentality. “I’m one of those lucky people who is genuinely happy to come to work,” she says. “I love when it’s busy and there’s a problem to solve. I like including the team in decision-making and seeing everyone take accountability.” Beyond the Office Outside of her busy professional life, Iwona is a self-described “open book.” Her world revolves around her family—her husband and her 21-year-old daughter, who is currently studying psychology—and her commitment to the gym. “The gym keeps me sane!” she laughs, recalling a time she was spotted giving histology instructions over her headphones while mid-squat. “I’m a typical Polish person; I’m very close to my roots and family, but my life and my home are firmly here in the UK.” Looking to the Future Iwona is ambitious about what’s next. Her goal is to see CHEC diversify its disciplines even further. “What we do, we do really well. We have the governance and the structure to ensure safety and quality. In the future, I want to see us offering even more diversity in our services, ensuring more patients can access the care they need.” CHEC is reinforcing its commitment to medical education by welcoming the next generation of eye care specialists to its North West facilities. In a move that highlights CHEC’s evolving role as a pivotal training hub, the organisation has hosted both a specialist registrar and a final-year medical student for intensive, consultant-led clinical rotations. Pioneering Surgical Excellence Rohan, a 1st year Specialty Trainee (ST1) from the North West Deanery, joined CHEC as a key component of his early surgical development. His placement is specifically designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and high-level surgical proficiency. Under the expert supervision of Mr Moemen Elnawawy, CHEC Ophthalmologist, Rohan has been progressing through the structured CHEC Cataract Training Pathway. This comprehensive curriculum includes: Wet lab preparation to refine tactile precision. Stepwise surgical exposure, allowing for gradual mastery of complex procedures. One-to-one theatre supervision to ensure patient safety and elite clinical outcomes. The primary objective of the placement is to accelerate Rohan’s confidence and decision-making within a real-world, high-throughput environment—an experience that serves as a vital complement to his NHS training. Inspiring the Next Generation In addition to postgraduate surgical training, CHEC also welcomed Alexandra Kim, a 5th-year medical student, for a specialised four-week rotation. Having expressed a keen interest in ophthalmology, Alex’s timetable spanned CHEC’s sites in Preston, Blackpool, and Accrington, providing her with a unique oversight of community-based elective care. Alexandra shared her thoughts with us, “CHEC provided a friendly and welcoming learning environment with a fantastic mix of teaching across the full spectrum of patient care. Before this placement, I wasn’t familiar with the organisation and had only a basic, AKT-level understanding of ophthalmology, supported by very limited clinical exposure. This experience has significantly deepened my knowledge, offering a comprehensive insight into the entire cataract surgery pathway—from initial pre-operative assessments to post-operative YAG. I’ve gained practical skills in reading OCT scans, understanding different lens types, and recognising complications such as PCO. The highlight was undoubtedly the outpatient clinics and observing the surgeries. I am incredibly grateful to the staff for their eagerness to teach, with a special thank you to Mr Moemen and Ayesha for their excellent guidance and support.” A Commitment to the Future of the Field CHEC is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of the UK’s ophthalmic future. By integrating trainees into its efficient, elective-only settings, CHEC provides a consistent volume of cases that is often difficult to achieve in traditional acute hospital environments. Mahmoud Rabie, Clinical Director of Ophthalmology at CHEC, commented: “Rohan’s placement reflects CHEC’s essential role in supporting early-stage trainees by providing consistent case exposure and focused, consultant-led training within a dedicated elective environment. By fostering an atmosphere where education and efficiency coexist, we are not just treating today’s patients; we are ensuring the consultants of tomorrow are equipped with the precision and confidence the field demands.” Looking To The Future CHEC is proud to be at the forefront of educating the next generation of eye care professionals. Through our established partnerships with the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Hertfordshire, as well as our work training ST1-ST7 Ophthalmology trainees from the Mersey, Manchester, and North West Deaneries, we provide an essential bridge between theory and practice. Our clinical teams take immense pride in mentoring these students, offering them the high-volume, real-world experience necessary to shape the future of the field. If you or your organisation are interested in partnering with CHEC, please contact education@chec.uk. We are absolutely delighted to announce that CHEC has officially achieved the Inclusive Excellence Award. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication shown by the entire team in fostering a workplace culture where everyone truly feels they belong. What is the Inclusive Excellence Award? The Inclusive Excellence Award is the second stage of a comprehensive three-stage accreditation framework designed by Inclusion UK. By reaching this milestone, CHEC has demonstrated a clear commitment to building an inclusive culture that values employee perspectives and goes beyond basic legislative requirements. To achieve this award, CHEC underwent a rigorous evaluation process, including: A Comprehensive Colleague Survey: All colleagues members were invited to share their honest experiences and perspectives anonymously. In-depth Analysis: The survey results were scored and benchmarked against other organisations within the industry and across the UK. Thematic Reporting: A final report highlighted key themes, celebrated best practices, and identified specific areas for further enhancement. Celebrating the Benefits Achieving this accreditation isn’t just about the certificate; it brings tangible benefits to the entire organisation, such as: Enhanced Staff Engagement: Proving that employee views are genuinely valued. Attracting Diverse Talent: Publicly demonstrating a serious commitment to equity and inclusion. Increased Innovation & Productivity: Building a culture that empowers every individual to contribute their best. Our Commitment to the Future The journey doesn’t end here. The results and feedback gathered throughout this process have already been built into robust action plans to ensure we continue to evolve. We will continue working closely with Inclusivity UK to keep improving our practices and, looking to the future, we have set our sights on achieving the Gold Award. This next step represents our ongoing ambition to be a leader in workplace inclusivity and excellence. Tan Dhesi, Member of Parliament for Slough, recently visited CHEC Slough to celebrate a significant clinical milestone: the treatment of the hospital’s 10,000th ophthalmology patient. During the visit to the Beechwood House facility on Windsor Road, Mr Dhesi met with frontline clinicians and patients to learn more about how the community hospital is helping to reduce NHS waiting times across Berkshire. Since opening in 2021, CHEC Slough has become a vital hub for local eye care, providing essential services including cataract surgery, glaucoma management, and YAG laser treatments. The milestone follows a period of rapid growth for the site, which has also expanded its remit to offer specialist dermatology services to the local community. By providing care for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and skin lesions in a community setting, the hospital is ensuring that Slough residents can access expert diagnosis and treatment closer to home, without the need for long journeys to larger acute hospital trusts. Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough, commented: “It was a pleasure to visit CHEC Slough and meet the dedicated team who have now supported 10,000 patients with their sight and eye health. Accessible, high-quality healthcare is a priority for our community, and seeing a local facility provide both ophthalmology and dermatology services so efficiently is fantastic. Milestones like this demonstrate the impact of community-based care in tackling elective backlogs and improving the lives of Slough residents.” CHEC is one of the UK’s leading providers of community-based healthcare, working in partnership with the NHS to offer patients greater choice and shorter waiting times. The Slough hospital recently completed a roll-out of several ‘spoke’ clinics across the region to further increase equity of access for those in more remote areas. Sundeep Sagoo, Hospital Manager at CHEC Slough, said: “We were delighted to welcome Tan Dhesi to our hospital to share in this achievement. Reaching our 10,000th ophthalmology patient is a testament to the hard work of our entire clinical and administrative team. We are proud to be a part of the Slough community, and as we continue to grow our dermatology and eye care services, our focus remains firmly on delivering outstanding patient experiences and clinical excellence.” With an average treatment waiting time of significantly less than the national average, CHEC Slough continues to accept referrals for both ophthalmology and dermatology via local approved pathways and the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). Learn about the services offered at CHEC Slough. — CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is proud to announce that its Milton Keynes hospital has officially treated its 5,000th patient. This significant milestone highlights the facility’s vital role in reducing local waiting times and providing high-quality specialist care within the community. Since opening its doors, CHEC Milton Keynes has become a cornerstone of local healthcare, offering essential ophthalmology, gastroenterology and dermatology services. By providing an alternative to traditional hospital settings, the community hospital has helped thousands of residents access efficient, person-centred treatment closer to home. The achievement follows a period of successful growth for the site, which upon opening hosted a well-attended Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event in January 2024. The event welcomed local optometrists and healthcare professionals to the state-of-the-art facility, fostering collaboration and sharing clinical expertise to further improve patient pathways across Buckinghamshire. A Positive Experience for Every Patient The 5,000-patient milestone is reflected in the consistently high levels of patient satisfaction reported at the hospital. One Milton Keynes patient shared their experience following a recent procedure: “Excellent! I was really nervous but the whole procedure was much better than I expected. The doctor and nurse were very pleasant, efficient and caring. They couldn’t have done any better!” This feedback underscores CHEC’s commitment to a seamless, person-centred patient experience, ensuring that individuals feel supported and at ease from the moment they arrive Clarity: Premium Eyecare Tailored to You In addition to its core NHS services, the Milton Keynes site is home to Clarity, a private healthcare provider. Clarity offers patients an alternative pathway for cataract surgery, providing premium lens options—including multifocal and toric lenses—that are not typically available through standard NHS routes. This service allows patients to tailor their vision to their specific lifestyle needs, often reducing or removing the dependence on glasses following surgery. By housing both NHS and private services under one roof, CHEC ensures that all members of the community have access to a full spectrum of eyecare choices. A Moment of Immense Pride from Management Amisha Majitha, Hospital Manager at CHEC Milton Keynes, commented: “Treating our 5,000th patient is a moment of immense pride for the entire team. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clinicians and staff who strive every day to deliver outstanding care. We know how much of an impact timely treatment has on the quality of life for our patients, and we are honoured to be able to support the Milton Keynes community by making specialist healthcare—whether through our NHS or private Clarity services—more accessible and efficient.” CHEC Milton Keynes continues to work closely with the NHS to ensure patients can access treatment quickly, typically offering much shorter waiting times than the national average. With a focus on clinical excellence and a seamless patient experience, the hospital is well-positioned to support thousands more local residents in the years to come. For more information about the services offered at CHEC Milton Keynes, please visit https://chec.uk/location/milton-keynes/. In the evolving landscape of the NHS, the transition from “analogue to digital” is more than just a buzzword; for Dr Nimzing Ladep, it is a career-long mission. Now serving as the Clinical Director of Gastroenterology at CHEC, Dr Ladep is leveraging a unique blend of academic rigour, technological innovation, and clinical expertise to ensure that world-class specialist care is available in the heart of the community. A Foundation of Excellence and Innovation Before joining the leadership team at CHEC, Dr Ladep spent over five years as a consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. During his tenure, he served as the audit lead, a role that honed his commitment to clinical governance and patient safety. However, his influence extends far beyond the consultation room. In 2014, he earned a PhD from Imperial College London in translational medicine, specifically focusing on liver cancer diagnostics. This ground-breaking research earned him the prestigious Lady Estelle Wolfson Lectureship from the Royal College of Physicians. Dr Ladep’s drive for innovation is perhaps best exemplified by his work in digital health. Supported by a Gilead Medical Fellowship, he developed a hepatitis care companion app—a precursor to the offline-first digital transformation philosophy he now champions at CHEC. “I realised that CHEC represented what I have always worked for: tackling complex healthcare pathways and simplifying them through digital solutions so that patients can optimise their health anywhere and everywhere.” Three Pillars of Leadership Dr Ladep’s role at CHEC is defined by three core areas of focus: Clinical Expertise: Providing broad-based care, from high-level endoscopy to offering direct specialist advice to GPs and hospital colleagues. Research & Accessibility: Applying “offline-first” technology to the liver healthcare space, ensuring that even patients in remote or hard-to-reach areas can access life-saving diagnostics. Systems Assurance: Drawing on his governance background to ensure that every patient pathway is robust, safe, and efficient, preventing harm through meticulous system-level oversight. Impact and Achievements Since stepping into the role of Clinical Director, Dr Ladep has spearheaded several initiatives that have fundamentally improved patient outcomes: Clinical Alignment: He led a comprehensive review of gastroenterology pathways to ensure they align perfectly with NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and BSG (British Society of Gastroenterology) guidelines. GP Empowerment: By delivering national webinars on abnormal liver function tests, he has improved the quality of referrals, allowing the right patients to be seen and treated faster. Quality Assurance: By implementing NED (National Endoscopy Database) KPIs, Dr Ladep provides direct feedback to endoscopists. This data-driven approach ensures that CHEC centres—which are JAG-accredited—maintain the highest standards of safety and diagnostic accuracy. A Vision for the Future: Health Equity Looking ahead to the next five years, Dr Ladep sees CHEC as a blueprint for the NHS 10-year plan. His vision is for CHEC to become the leading specialist community service in England and the wider UK, proving that world-class specialist care can exist outside of traditional hospital settings. “What makes CHEC stand out is that we are the real deal,” Dr Ladep explains. “We don’t just take work from the NHS; we provide our own independent infrastructure. We are a partner, not a competitor. We strengthen the entire healthcare system by allowing the NHS to continue its vital work while we enhance access for communities that struggle most.” Advice for the Next Generation To those entering the field of gastroenterology, Dr Ladep’s advice is simple: stay human. “Align your role with your basic instincts. Never forget the reason you chose medicine,” he suggests. “CHEC is the perfect place for this because we use technology to clear away the administrative noise. This allows you to focus on your clinical passion and reminds you every day why you became a doctor in the first place.” This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, we are reflecting on the importance of making life-saving screenings accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. The NHS 10-Year Plan highlights the need to shift care into community settings to better serve local populations, and our recent collaboration with GP Pathfinder Clinics shows exactly why this approach works. Tackling the Challenge Head-On In 2024, the cervical screening uptake for GP Pathfinder Clinics sat at approximately 22%. Recognising that this was far below the national average of 68% and even regional averages like North West London (60%), we launched a targeted project to bridge the gap. By using CHEC community hospitals in New Cross and Ilford to host clinics, we added vital capacity to the local healthcare system. The goal was simple but ambitious: bring the service to the patient and tackle health inequalities through integration. Results That Speak for Themselves By 30 July 2025, the results of this collaborative effort were remarkable. GP Pathfinder Clinics did not just meet the 30% conversion benchmark—they shattered it, supported by CHEC’s infrastructure designed to deliver care closer to home: CHEC New Cross – GP Pathfinder Clinics contacted 440 patients, resulting in 209 bookings. This 47.5% conversion rate is more than double the previous performance—a 115% increase over the previous year. CHEC Ilford – GP Pathfinder Clinics contacted 628 patients, leading to 243 bookings. The 38.7% conversion rate achieved here is over 70% higher than the NHS baseline. Why Community-Focused Care Matters The success of this initiative wasn’t just about extra clinic space; it was about proactive outreach. Muna Bulaleh of Mollison Way Surgery noted that the combination of SMS campaigns, proactive recall calls, and bringing services closer to the community made a measurable difference. “The NHS has committed to not letting spare capacity go to waste… delivering outcomes for patients is the most important thing. This initiative is a great example of how we can work in collaboration… to deliver real impact.” — Professor Des Breen, CHEC Chief Medical Officer Looking Forward We are committed to supporting the NHS and local communities, whether that be in supporting cervical screening initiatives, or providing our facilities for other activities. If you or your Trust are in need of assistance in any activity and would like to know more, click here (https://chec.uk/for-professionals/nhs-partnerships/) By working together, we can ensure that essential health services are accessible, helping more people get the care they need closer to home. CHEC are proud to announce the significant milestone reached by CHEC Watford, having treated its 50,000th patient. Since opening its doors, the hospital has become a vital pillar of the Hertfordshire community, offering high-quality specialist care without the long waits often associated with larger acute trusts. As a dedicated partner to the NHS, CHEC Watford continues to make healthcare more accessible with waiting times for some services just 1 to 4 weeks. This ensures local residents receive access to essential diagnostics swiftly and efficiently. Investing in the Future of Eyecare In a further commitment to the region, CHEC Watford has officially partnered with the University of Hertfordshire to provide clinical placements for ophthalmology and optometry students. This partnership allows the next generation of clinicians to gain hands-on experience in a high-volume, state-of-the-art surgical environment, ensuring the future of eyecare in the UK remains in expert hands. Premium Eyecare with Clarity In addition to its core NHS services, the Watford site is home to Clarity, a private healthcare provider. Clarity offers patients an alternative pathway for cataract surgery, providing premium lens options – including multifocal and toric lenses – that are not typically available through standard NHS routes. This service allows patients to tailor their vision to their specific lifestyle needs, often reducing or removing the need for glasses following surgery. Comprehensive Services & Patient Comfort CHEC Watford offers a wide range of specialist services, including: Ophthalmology: Expert care for cataracts, glaucoma, and AMD. General Surgery: Efficient outpatient procedures in a modern clinical setting. To ensure care is accessible to everyone, the hospital provides a free Home to Hospital™ minibus service with a “super-friendly” driver, removing the stress of transport for elderly or less mobile patients. Patients also benefit from a bespoke mobile booking app, allowing them to manage appointments and view clinical information with ease. A Word from Leadership “Reaching our 50,000th patient is a monumental achievement for the entire team here at CHEC Watford,” says Amy Knotschild, Hospital Manager. “Our goal has always been to provide the highest standard of care while ensuring no one in our community is left waiting in uncertainty. Whether it’s our short wait times, our new educational partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, or our wonderful minibus driver who goes the extra mile, we pride ourselves on a personal, compassionate approach. We look forward to supporting the next 50,000 residents of Watford and beyond.”