Dear patients,

In line with government guidelines, please follow the guidelines below:

If you are having an outpatient appointment for any reason, please follow point 1 below:

1. If you have any of the following symptoms, please do not attend your appointment.  Please cancel the appointment and arrange a lateral flow test (LFT). Let the clinic know that you will need to rebook.
   • A temperature of greater than 37.8 degrees
   • Persistent new cough
   • Loss of sense of smell and taste

If you are having cataract surgery, undertake a COVID-19 test prior to your surgery.  Please follow the instructions below:

1. Please order a test at least 10 days before the appointment to allow time for the test to be undertaken.  This can be ordered from the link here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
2. The test should be undertaken 3 days before the procedure date.
3. You should socially distance yourself for 3 days prior to surgery.
4. Please provide proof of the test by logging the result on the gov.uk website, where you will receive an email or text to verify the test result once you have entered your result. This must be brought with the patient on the day of admission.

We thank you for your patience and understanding. Stay safe!

CHEC has announced the launch of a new centre in Gateshead Metrocentre. With 100,000 people currently waiting for treatment in Newcastle and Gateshead hospitals, the new centre will provide vital eye care services to help ease the regional backlog in the North East.  

Commenting on the new centre, Jon Dore said: “The launch of our new Newcastle Gateshead site is a very exciting step in our ongoing aim to provide efficient and high-quality ophthalmology services across the country. Our local eyecare services will offer support in addressing the regional backlogs faced by Newcastle and Gateshead. And with some patients facing waiting times as long as two years for crucial services, our new centre will help ensure that patients receive the care they need.”

In the wake of the pandemic, ophthalmology is facing significant backlogs, with over half a million people currently waiting for ophthalmology services. The NHS cannot be left to deal with these backlogs alone, so CHEC’s new treatment centre in Gateshead will support the NHS in addressing these growing delays by providing eye care services for the local community.

To mark the upcoming opening of the new Newcastle Gateshead treatment centre, CHEC will be hosting a face-to-face CPD open evening on Tuesday 28^th June 7 pm-9 pm,  where local optometrists will be introduced to the new site – register for your place today.  

Attending optometrists will also have the opportunity to gain one CPD point by taking part in a highly anticipated CPD seminar discussing Global Perspectives on Glaucoma, which will be hosted by CHEC’s CEO and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Imran Rahman.

With the first patients expected in the Gateshead Metrocentre in early June, this new centre opening follows other recent openings and forms part of CHEC’s wider drive to deliver new centres across the country, as well as its continued ambition to support the NHS in reducing backlogs and providing patients with efficient and high-quality care.

This week, CHEC New Cross is celebrating one year since its first cataract surgery.

In the last 12 months, the hospital staff have treated an incredible 6,664 patients, providing a wide range of ophthalmic services:

We are so proud of our hard-working team for making the first year a success.

The New Cross team had a fantastic time celebrating with patients.

Congratulations Samea and team New Cross, roll on the next 12 months!   

CHEC has been announced as the winner of the ‘Most Engaging Stand’ at the recent 100% Optical event, for which it was the entrance sponsor. 100% Optical is the largest ophthalmology event in the UK and was hosted between the 23^rd and 25^th of April at London’s ExCeL Centre. The event was attended by over 4,000 optometrists, 1,000 practice owners and 2,000 dispensing opticians.

Commenting on the award win, Jon Dore, CHEC COO, said, “We are very excited to be the winners of the ‘most engaging stand’ award at such a respected and prestigious event for the ophthalmology industry, and the accolade is truly reflective of the level of innovation and ambition across CHEC. We are already looking forward to exhibiting again at 100% Optical 2023!”

CHEC’s highly innovative stand provided event attendees with the opportunity to conduct cataract surgery on a demonstration model in a dry lab, provided by Théa Pharmaceuticals. Imran Rahman, CHEC CEO, awarded an iPad to the best surgeon each day.

A competition winner said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of conducting cataract surgery at CHEC’s dry lab and would love to do it again. It was the best part about 100% Optical by a long shot, and I hope CHEC can exhibit again at next year’s event.”

Imran Rahman also hosted a CPD seminar entitled “Managing the COVID-19 backlog in ophthalmology”, where he explored the role of community-based approaches to healthcare in reducing NHS waiting lists, which have dramatically increased during the pandemic.

CHEC was joined on stage by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), a charity offering support and advice to two million people in the UK experiencing sight loss. CHEC recently partnered with RNIB to ensure Eye Care Liaison Officers are on hand at sites to provide tailored practical and emotional support to patients.

Overall, the event was a huge success for CHEC and we can’t wait to be back in 2023!

CHEC is pleased to announce that it will be the entrance sponsor for the upcoming 100% Optical event at ExCel, London. 100% Optical is the largest ophthalmology event in the UK and is expected to attract over 9,500 visitors and over 200 exhibitors between the 23rd and 25th of April.

As a major sponsor, CHEC will have a stand at the event with a dry lab, providing the opportunity for volunteers to practise cataract surgery on a demonstration model. Imran Rahman, CEO and consultant ophthalmologist, will award an iPad to the best surgeon each day.

Imran Rahman will also be hosting a discussion at 09.30 on the 24th of April on “Managing the COVID-19 backlog in ophthalmology”, where he will explore the role community-based approaches to healthcare have in reducing NHS waiting lists.

Speaking about the event, Imran Rahman said, “We are very excited to be the entrance sponsors for 100% Optical, a respected and prestigious event in the ophthalmology industry. We would welcome attendees to come to visit us at stand L430 and try out our unique dry lab. I am honoured to be hosting a discussion on managing the COVID-19 backlog, something that lies at the very core of what we aim to do at CHEC through our community-based approaches to healthcare.”

CHEC will be joined at the event by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), a charity offering support and advice to two million people in the UK experiencing sight loss. CHEC has recently partnered with RNIB to ensure Eye Care Liaison Officers will be on hand at sites to provide tailored practical and emotional support to patients.

CHEC’s sponsorship and provision of further services mark CHEC’s successful efforts in growing and raising awareness of the importance of accessible healthcare.

• The Centre will help ease local and regional ophthalmology backlogs
• Roll out of new CHEC centres aims to provide faster support for half a million patients waiting for ophthalmology treatment in the UK

CHEC, one of the largest providers of community-based ophthalmology services in the UK, has announced the launch of a new treatment centre offering eye care services in Northampton.

CHEC’s latest clinic is conveniently located in the centre of Northampton in Sol Central and will provide the NHS with increased capacity to help tackle the backlog of some half a million ophthalmology-related treatments, such as cataracts. The launch of CHEC’s services in Northampton will offer a much-needed option for patients in need of treatment in the region.

CHEC’s new treatment centre in Northampton will play an important role in clearing regional eyecare backlogs in the East Midlands, which has been one of the hardest-hit areas, seeing a 39% drop in elective admissions throughout the pandemic. CHEC’s expanding network of clinics is also playing an increasingly vital role in reducing the burden on the NHS and allowing patients to receive treatment as early and efficiently as possible.

Like CHEC’s other centres, the Northampton centre offers CHEC’s free Home to Hospital™ transport service, which offers patients transport to and from appointments and surgery, helping patients reach their appointments efficiently and without stress. The opening of the Northampton centre also follows the release of CHEC’s booking app, which can determine the urgency of an appointment and allow patients to book the most convenient time for themselves, speeding up the booking process and minimising cancellations and missed appointments.

The Northampton centre follows recent site openings across the Midlands, including in Leicester, Nottingham and Coventry, as part of CHEC’s continued rollout of new centres to help the NHS and provide high-quality, efficient eye care. Throughout the pandemic, CHEC has provided much needed support to the NHS as a trusted partner and has received positive feedback with 99% of patients happy to recommend CHEC to friends and family.

Jon Dore, Chief Operating Officer at CHEC, said: “The launch of our new treatment centre in Northampton is a welcome addition to our recent site openings. We believe it is essential to expand our services in regions where the NHS faces crippling backlogs and pressures, and the opening of the centre illustrates our priority – supporting the NHS and of course, local patients who are in urgent need of our services. At CHEC, high-quality, responsive care always comes first, and this site will play a role in building a strong partnership with the local community for many years to come.”

CHEC has announced a strategic partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to provide dedicated Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) services for CHEC’s centres. The partnership launches on 1st April and will be rolled out to an initial 10 centres.

The ECLO service will offer CHEC patients practical and emotional support after a diagnosis, ensuring patients receive readily available, personalised care. The areas of support offered by ECLOs include independent living, returning to work, benefit entitlements, use of technology, emotional support, and coping at home, empowering patients to discuss their concerns.

Jon Dore, COO at CHEC commented on the partnership, saying “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the RNIB, which will enable us to offer our patients support from an RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officer. With the pandemic increasing the pressure on eyecare services, this innovative partnership will ensure our patients, their families and carers have personalised advice and support to cope with a sight loss diagnosis.”

He added, “At CHEC, we care deeply about our patients and are committed to providing support across all aspects of their care and this new service will allow us to deliver on that promise.”

RNIB has been delivering an ECLO service across the UK since 1994. ECLOs must successfully complete RNIB’s Eye Clinic Support Studies course, accredited by the City, University of London, and approximately half of ECLOs have sight loss themselves.

The introduction of ECLO services is part of CHEC’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible for patients, following the recent app launch and the introduction of the free Home to Hospital transport service at the end of last year.

CHEC has announced the launch of its brand-new booking app, which will help patients to be seen as efficiently as possible. The app is the first of its kind to be launched by a community health service.

The app is able to determine the urgency of an appointment and will make it easier for patients to book a time that suits them. By giving patients a range of options, patients can book the most convenient times, minimising cancellations and missed appointments. This will shorten what can often be a testing process for patients.

Jon Dore, COO at CHEC, commented, “The online appointment booking system enables us to reach more patients and ensure they are treated quickly and efficiently. With the NHS facing extreme backlogs as a result of the pandemic, this app allows us to make a strong contribution to helping reduce patient wait times.”

He added, “It is good to see that patients are already making use of the app, which will accelerate our ability to offer appointments by making it as quick and easy as possible, and minimising cancellations with patients able to book at their convenience.”

The CHEC app is already being used by almost 50% of CHEC’s patients and will enable CHEC to reach more patients and make healthcare more accessible in an increasingly digitised world. It is important that patients are able to access their appointments, and the increased flexibility of the app alongside CHEC’s free Home to Hospital transport service will reduce the stress of making appointments.

All patients will be contacted via text with a secure link to book using the CHEC app.