CHEC treats first surgical eye patients at Stockport Exchange Post Date : October 30, 2023 News 2 minutes read Community healthcare provider restores sight for local residents in partnership with the NHS. CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, has marked a clinical milestone after treating its first surgical eye patients at the recently opened Stockport Exchange site. One of the first patients to benefit from CHEC’s community cataract procedures was Mr Gordon Thompson, aged 76 from Knutsford. Following the cataract surgery on his left eye, Mr Thompson can’t wait to see better in the dark and regain independence by being able to drive his car. Mr Thompson said: “All went well. The service was really good, the staff were friendly and I even had a cup of tea and a biscuit.” Working in partnership with the NHS, CHEC is helping to reduce waiting times in Stockport and the surrounding areas by making essential treatments more accessible in the community. “The waiting time for cataract surgery in Stockport is currently 7.9 weeks. By choosing CHEC, patients can access treatment within just four weeks,” explains Erin Broad, Hospital Manager. “Patient choice and care are front and centre of our operations at CHEC, and we’ve developed a wide range of initiatives to make it easier for people to access the healthcare services they need. But the most rewarding part is seeing the impact our community-based healthcare has on people like Mr Thompson.” The state-of-the-art community care facility was opened by Cllr Colin MacAlister, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Housing last month, and has already seen over 300 patients for diagnostic appointments.