A RETINAL suite has been created and two nurse specialists appointed in a major investment in hospital eye services in Colchester.

The Retinal Suite at Essex County Hospital is a one-stop shop for the growing number of patients with retinal disease, the most common of which is age-related macular degeneration.

Nicola Hopkins and Lynn Barker, who are both based at the hospital, have been appointed to the newlycreated posts of retinal nurse specialist and glaucoma nurse specialist.

Anne Morris, service manager for general surgery, urology and ophthalmology, said Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Essex County Hospital, was determined to improve the experience of patients with eye conditions.

“North east Essex is well-known for having particularly high numbers of elderly patients, many of whom live on the coast,” she said.

“This means that demand for our eye services is growing all the time, so we have taken a number of significant steps to improve the patient experience in this area.

“Before the retinal suite was set up, patients with retinal disease coming to Essex County Hospital as outpatients had to go to different parts of the site for different aspects of their care and treatment.

“Most of these patients are elderly and some are not particularly mobile, so this was hugely inconvenient for them.”

The new facility is open Monday to Friday and is used by an average of 50 patients a day.

The retinal suite features two “vision lanes” where patients can have their eyesight tested, five outpatient pods, a room where an ophthalmic photographer is based and a treatment room.

It cost £23,000 to set up and has been created in the former Mary Barron Suite, where outpatients used to go for chemotherapy before it transferred to Colchester General Hospital. The Trust plans to transfer all services from the Lexden Road site within the next year.

No decision has yet been taken about where the eye services will be transferred, but one option being considered is Colchester Primary Care Centre, next to Colchester General Hospital.