New SpaMedica eye hospital opens in Chester

SpaMedica – one of the country’s leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services – has opened a new, state-of-the-art eye hospital in Chester. The hospital, which specialises in NHS cataract surgery and YAG laser capsulotomy, will help to significantly reduce waiting times for local patients who require treatment to improve their vision. The new hospital will offer appointments to patients in just 2-4 weeks, compared to a national target of 18 weeks. Based on SpaMedica’s impressive track record, patients will benefit from first-class care and excellent post-operative outcomes too.  

Chester hopes to follow in the footsteps of SpaMedica’s 46 other highly rated hospitals, 28 of which have already been inspected by industry regulator the Care Quality Commission. 11 hospitals (39%) have received an ‘Outstanding’ rating and 17 hospitals (61%) have achieved a ‘Good’ rating. In January 2023, Catherine Campbell, the CQC’s head of hospital inspection, described SpaMedica’s operating model as “an exemplar of best practice which others can, and should, learn from.” SpaMedica’s hospitals also have some of the lowest complication rates nationally, with surgeries being carried out by experienced consultant surgeons.   

The Chester site – which is based on Chester Business Park, with its main entrance located just off Heronsway – offers a comfortable and welcoming environment for patients and their families, with spacious waiting areas and a well-equipped operating theatre. It has plenty of on-site parking, and SpaMedica also offers a free transport service for patients who require transport to and from the hospital.  

Hospital manager Kerry Moseley – who led SpaMedica Skelmersdale to an ‘Outstanding’ rating in April last year and is now bringing her expertise to SpaMedica Chester – said: 

“I’m thrilled to be working alongside a team of highly skilled surgeons and healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care to patients in Chester and the surrounding areas. We’re working in partnership with the NHS to reduce local waiting lists and ensure patients who need cataract surgery or YAG laser capsulotomy get rapid access to high-quality treatment. Having seen the difference these procedures can make to someone’s quality of life, we can’t wait to get started and help patients get back to doing the hobbies and activities they love.” 

NHS patients who have been diagnosed with cataracts or posterior capsule opacification can ask for a referral to SpaMedica Chester through their local optician or GP.