University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) has relocated its eye hospital assessment centre to the Galleries shopping centre in a move to make the service more accessible and closer to key transport links.
The Bristol Eye Hospital Assessment Service opened in its new home in Broadmead on March 23 after moving from its previous temporary location in UHBW’s Education and Research Centre near the Bristol Royal Infirmary. It's not the first time the clinic has moved; prior to being at the BRI, it was at the Bristol Nightingale, and before that, it was at the Nuffield.
Originally founded in July 2020, the service was set up to enable the timely assessment and treatment of patients with chronic irreversible sight-threatening conditions. In the clinic, patients with eyesight issues are able to undergo a range of diagnostic tests, including complex images, with the aim of helping doctors take action to prevent further eyesight deterioration.
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In less than three years of operation, the hub has been visited by over 30,000 patients and was a finalist in the 2022 NHS Parliamentary Awards, with 98 per cent of patients rating the service as good to excellent. UHBW said that the move will offer patients excellent transport links and accessibility and said that "it is hoped that the service’s relocation to the Galleries in Broadmead, Bristol will be for the longer term."
How long-term that will be is unclear, as last year plans to demolish the Galleries shopping centre were revealed with developers planning to use the site to build 450 new homes, as well as offices, student flats, a hotel, shops, and cafes. Construction is expected to begin in late 2024, with the scheme finished in 2027.
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