To further support eye-health for people in the Lancashire region, a new eye care clinic is opening soon in the heart of Bamber Bridge, just three miles from Preston. The new site launch announcement comes as we mark National Eye Health Week (23-29 September), which promotes the importance of good eye health and regular eye screening for all.
Opening in October due to higher patient demand, the new Practice Plus Group purpose-built ophthalmology treatment centre will primarily focus on treatment of Adult Macular Degeneration (AMD) – the number one cause of sight loss in the UK, affecting 1.5 million people each year.
The new Preston-based eye clinic has been newly built in Bamber Bridge, located at Unit 10, Cottonmills Road, to support the group’s extensive mobile eye clinic programme in the region. Last year the group treated 1562 eye-patients in the North of England alone, and over 7,000 throughout the rest of the county.
Run by a skilled ophthalmology team, the new Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology Treatment Centre, will replace its former mobile eye unit situated in B&Q car park, Craven Drive, Preston, which has served the local community and surrounding areas for 7 years – freeing up the mobile unit to cover a broader area and give greater access to eye treatments to people in neighbouring communities.
“We are delighted to expand our services in the north of England with the opening of our specialist eye clinic in Bamber Bridge…our treatment centre will be a hub for people in the surrounding areas and brings a team of skilled eye-specialists.”
Caroline McHugh, Service Director for Ophthalmology at Practice Plus Group
With the new centre as a central hub for eye care in the Preston region, the group also offers around 20 mobile eye clinics a week for patients located in Chorley, Longridge, Fulwood, Tameside, Bury, and Yorkshire as well as Winchester in the south of England.
Practice Plus Group’s CQC rated ‘Outstanding’ eyecare clinics are estimated to reduce waiting times and provide quick and effective treatment for patients who have been GP or optician referred for Wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema or retinal vein occlusions. Patients will be offered an appointment well within the national two-week referral guidelines.
The new eye clinic was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Ribble Borough Council
Since launching its well-regarded eye-treatment clinics in 2014 the group has invested significantly into its treatment services on behalf of the NHS. The new high-specification clinic at Bamber Bridge incorporates a welcoming reception area, waiting room, assessment suite and treatment rooms in which patients receive the sight-stabilising injections required for AMD treatment.
The prestigious treatment centre has been under development for the past nine months and has been built by local contractors Fast Fix. The centre will provide greater access to premium eye-care.
Caroline McHugh Service Director for Ophthalmology, says: “We are delighted to expand our services in the north of England with the forthcoming opening of our new specialist eye clinic in Bamber Bridge. We aim to offer patients the very best in ophthalmic care and we continue to deliver excellent outcomes. Our new treatment centre will be a central hub for people of Bamber Bridge and surrounding areas and brings with it a skilled team of eye-specialists and boasts lower waiting times and a one stop diagnosis and treatment approach”.
