University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has started construction on the Royal Eye Infirmary (REI) building, which is due to open in Spring 2023.
Its optometry facilities aimed to meet growing demand in eye care and surgeries with more treatment rooms, an expanded area for children, three theatres and improved access for patients with a drop-off zone and parking.
Eye care services at the new building will replace those at the Derriford Hospital site, giving the hospital more wards for the emergency department.
The expanded theatre will meet the need for sub-specialism surgeries, such as oculoplastic, orbital and corneal, to reduce waiting times of patients across Devon and Cornwall.
Dave Adams, head of the optometry department, commented: ‘We are an ageing population, which means eye care and eye issues are going to continue to increase with more people experiencing conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. The new REI means more space and more equipment, which is good news for waiting times for patients accessing our services.
‘We can treat more patients if we have the space, the staff and the equipment, and the good news is that we are employing more staff to work here too.’