Centre will provide efficient and high-quality services to help ease regional backlogs including elective admissions falling by 39%
Roll out of new centres aims to provide faster support for the 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 centre offering eyecare treatment, such as cataracts surgery, in Leicester.
The new treatment centre, covering 7,000 square feet in the centre of Leicester, will provide the NHS with crucial support in tackling pandemic related backlogs. The site will offer vital ophthalmology services to the area with patients in Leicester facing wait times of up to two years for cataracts surgery.
Currently, there are nearly six million patients in the UK stuck on waiting lists with only 65% of patients across all services being seen within the NHS’ 18-week target. In addition, the ongoing threat of the Omicron variant has placed an added strain on the NHS with staff absences set to increase waiting lists. CHEC’s services in Leicester are now stepping in to reduce this burden by supporting the NHS in tackling the growing backlog.
In particular, ophthalmology has faced very long waiting lists throughout the pandemic with over half a million people waiting for ophthalmology services and a 40% reduction in cataracts surgery being performed. By offering vital ophthalmology services in Leicester, CHEC will be playing a crucial role in reducing this burden on the NHS whilst also ensuring patients receive treatment as efficiently as possible.
By providing such services in the centre of Leicester, CHEC will also be supporting the NHS in tackling regional backlogs. The East Midlands has been one of the areas hit the hardest by pandemic related backlogs. The region has experienced a 39% drop in elective admissions as routine services have faced a substantial reduction during the pandemic. The new treatment centre will offer the region support in easing these backlogs and ensuring all local patients are seen quickly.
This new launch follows several other recent site openings, including in Nottingham and Coventry, as CHEC continues its wider plans for a roll out of centres to support the NHS and offer patients efficient and high-quality service.
Imran Rahman, Consultant Ophthalmologist and CEO at CHEC, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our new treatment centre in Leicester. With the NHS continuing to face extensive backlogs and pandemic related pressures, particularly in the East Midlands, we will be able to ease these pressures by offering crucial ophthalmology services in the very heart of Leicester. At CHEC, giving back to the local community is always our priority and this new centre will allow us to support both the local NHS services and the patients currently needing efficient care.”
