CHEC, a community healthcare provider delivering specialist ophthalmology services on behalf of the NHS, has announced the expansion of its Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) service.

MIGS is an innovative approach combining glaucoma treatment with cataract surgery, utilising advanced techniques to control intraocular pressure through tiny incisions and microscopic implants. After successfully launching MIGS at a small number of its hospitals as part of a trial earlier in the year, CHEC is now expanding the service on behalf of the NHS to its sites in Stockport, Stoke, Sheffield, Newcastle, Warrington, Trafford, Ilford, Swindon, and New Cross, with more locations coming soon.

MIGS aims to avoid optic nerve damage and vision loss by addressing blockages at different pressure points in the eye, to enhance natural fluid drainage. By minimising these unnecessary blockages, MIGS proves to be an effective method for controlling intraocular pressure.

MIGS is less invasive than traditional methods such as trabeculectomy or aqueous shunt surgery, reducing risk and ensuring a faster recovery for patients. MIGS is typically advised for individuals experiencing mild to moderate glaucoma with compromised drainage of fluid in the eye.

Mahmoud Rabie, Clinical Director for Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist for CHEC, said: “At CHEC, we recognise the importance of empowering our patients with knowledge about their treatment options. MIGS procedures are known for their minimally invasive nature, utilising tiny incisions and advanced technology to enhance fluid drainage from the eye. Managing glaucoma can be a significant aspect of a person’s health journey, but MIGS provides a crucial solution to help prevent the progression of the disease and in turn, save the health of the optic nerve. It also has the potential to simplify postoperative care – as the eye’s natural drainage system is restored so quickly after surgery – and reduce the need for glaucoma eye drops. We’re excited about expanding the delivery of MIGS services on behalf of the NHS to more of our hospitals, bringing advanced treatment to a broader community to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.“

For more information, visit CHEC’s MIGS information page.

CHEC Preston invites local communities to celebrate National Eye Health Week at Eye Health Fair

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is celebrating this year’s National Eye Health Week (23-29 September 2024) by welcoming local communities to a free Eye Health Fair.

Raising awareness of the importance of eye health, the drop-in event will take place at Community Eyecare Hospital, CHEC Preston on Saturday 28^th September between 10am and 2pm. A free, fun and informative day, the Eye Health Fair aims to educate local people, with CHEC surgeon Dr Moemen Elnawawy and hospital manager Antonia Fox on hand to provide advice about the importance of eyecare and of 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.

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.

The Eye Health Fair will allow residents to look behind the scenes of the community hospital, participate in games tailored to various visual and sensory needs, enjoy refreshments including coffee and cake, and enter giveaways and prize draws. Local charity, Galloways Society for the Blind will be in attendance, as well as volunteers from Guide Dogs.

Antonia, Hospital Manager at CHEC Preston, said: “The Eye Health Fair is a great opportunity for us to engage the local community with the importance of eye health, what we can do to protect our eyes, and offer our advice to those who need it. We’d love to see local communities come together to meet our eye doctors, explore the hospital, and join in the various activities we have planned. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and National Eye Health Week is the perfect occasion to celebrate with them while raising awareness of the importance of eye health.”

CHEC’s Eye Health Fair is free to attend, and open to all ages. Residents do not need to sign up and are welcome to visit the Preston hospital between 10am and 2pm.

To learn more about the Eye Health Fair, or ask questions about the event, please contact events@chec.uk.

CHEC’s new West Bromwich 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 West Bromwich hospital in autumn 2024.

Based in West Bromwich town centre, the community hospital will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services to local residents.

The new facility will be located at the Farley Centre, with free parking and excellent transport links. CHEC is currently fitting out the 8,234 square foot building into a state-of-the-art clinical facility complete with an ophthalmology theatre and endoscopy suite.

Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC has more than 25 community hospitals nationwide. The addition of CHEC in West Bromwich strengthens its existing West Midlands stronghold which already includes Coventry, Kings Norton and Worcester.

“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 in the community, and we can’t wait to open our doors in West Bromwich. 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 West Bromwich 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 community healthcare, has completed the fit out of its new community ophthalmology hospital in Leeds.

Due to open in the upcoming months, the hospital will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology services to local residents. CHEC Leeds will support the NHS in reducing waiting times by treating patients within 1-4 weeks of a referral being received.

The community hospital is located in West Park, Headingley, and features a state-of-the-art clinical facility complete with an ophthalmology theatre, free parking and excellent transport links.

Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC has more than 25 community hospitals nationwide. The addition of CHEC in Leeds strengthens its existing Northern England stronghold which already includes Blackpool, Greater Manchester, and Sheffield.

“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, so we can’t wait to open our doors and become part of the Leeds 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,” concludes Jose.

CHEC’s new centrally located centre set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice.

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, has completed the fit out of its new hospital in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

Due to open in the upcoming months, the facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services in the community. The new hospital will support the NHS in reducing waiting times by treating patients within four weeks of a referral being received.

The new hospital is located at Kingsgate House, Kings Norton Business Centre, and features a state-of-the-art clinical facility complete with an ophthalmology theatre and one endoscopy suite. Within walking distance of the town centre, the 7,830 sq ft site has ample free parking and excellent transport links.

Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC has more than 25 community hospitals nationwide. The addition of CHEC in Birmingham strengthens its existing West Midlands stronghold, which already includes Coventry and Worcester.

“For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge to local residents, so we can’t wait to open our doors and become part of the Kings Norton community,” explains Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC.

“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. 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.” concludes Jose.

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 NHS patients after officially opening the doors at its Edison Park site in Swindon.

The hospital will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services, and is the first CHEC site to offer dermatology and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) services to the local community.

With ample free parking and excellent transport links, the state-of-the-art clinical facility is equipped with one ophthalmology theatre and one endoscopy suite. Now accepting referrals, the community hospital is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times by treating patients within four weeks of initial referral.

Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC, said: “For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services free of charge to local communities. This is our first site to offer specialist ENT and dermatology services, so we’re very excited to be opening our doors in Swindon.

CHEC Milton Keynes aims to increase patient choice and maintain short waiting times

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading community-based providers of ophthalmology and gastroenterology services, has announced its Milton Keynes hospital has been approved as an accredited provider by Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB.

The accreditation strengthens CHEC’s position as a trusted provider of healthcare for local people. Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC Milton Keynes seek to increase patient choice by offering end to end ophthalmic and gastrointestinal services to people living in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.

Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer at CHEC, said: “It’s increasingly common practice for ophthalmology services to be delivered in the community, but gastroenterology and endoscopy is a much newer pathway. We’ve spearheaded the delivery of these much-needed services and are looking forward to serving people living in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas.”

Following the accreditation, GPs can now use the referral pathway to give patients access to CHEC’s state-of-the-art facilities, which maintain short waiting times and promptly treat those who need ophthalmic or gastrointestinal treatment. CHEC commits to assessing and treating patients within four weeks of initial referral and ensures that full patient reports are returned to GPs and opticians following any given procedure or treatment.

CHEC, one of the largest community-based healthcare services in the UK, has provided premium Extended Depth of Focus (EDoF) lenses to patients for the first time, and has expanded the service across all its hospitals. This follows CHEC becoming the first provider of its type to offer the premium lenses free of charge, earlier this year.

As part of its mission to elevate patient care quality and become the industry’s leader in innovative ophthalmology solutions, CHEC now offers extended monofocal lenses to clinically eligible post-cataract surgery patients to enhance their subsequent range of vision, as part of its delivery of NHS services. Previously, anyone wanting these premium lenses would have to seek private care and pay for them, as they are not available on the NHS.

EDoF lenses represent a contemporary technology in cataract surgery compared to standard monofocal lenses. CHEC initially launched extended monofocal lenses across its Northern hospitals earlier this year, with site-wide expansion predicted to complete before the end of the year. This target has been reached several months early, with the standardised approach designed to increase efficiency in patient care.

“There has been growing demand for a lens that can do more, and now we are thrilled to be able to offer extended monofocal lenses as the groundbreaking innovation to solve the problem. The benefits they offer to patients are undeniable and we want to make them as accessible as possible. By adopting this advanced technology and offering it to patients who’ve been referred to CHEC, we’ll aim to deliver an elevated level of operational and clinical excellence to our NHS patients.”

Debbie Naylor, Regional Sales Manager at BVI Medical, the lens manufacturer which has collaborated with CHEC to provide the lenses as well as training and support for clinical staff, said: “We’re really proud to have partnered with CHEC and are pleased with how this first EDoF procedure has gone. We’re looking forward to working with CHEC to support NHS cataract surgery at all their hospitals, so patients right across the country can benefit from an improved field of vision.”