SpaMedica Bolton hosts MP visit

SpaMedica Bolton hosted a visit from Kirith Entwistle, MP for Bolton North East earlier this month (6 April). The meeting saw discussions of widening access to NHS treatment in the community.

SpaMedica is one of the UK’s largest independent sector providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology care.

Headquartered in Bolton with more than 200 staff across two city locations, SpaMedica said it is playing a “vital role” in reducing NHS waiting times and widening access to eye care services in Greater Manchester.

Entwistle met with SpaMedica experts and learned how its services are enabling more patients to be treated in the community.

During the meeting, SpaMedica discussed how the NHS could better utilise independent sector resources to deliver a wider range of community care for the NHS, while cutting waiting lists and improving health outcomes for patients.

Speaking about the visit, Entwistle said: “Quality health care really matters and I was pleased to visit SpaMedica Bolton and meet the team responsible for delivering treatments that make an enormous difference to people’s quality of life.”

“I was especially pleased to hear about SpaMedica’s efficient model for NHS patient care, and we went through the patient experience from start to finish,” she said.

Entwistle continued: “It’s great to have such an important partner for our NHS based here in Bolton, delivering high quality and essential care, and I love their patient-focused approach which is embedded in every aspect of the organisation.”

The provider treated 4500 patients in 2025, of which approximately 30% came from deprived neighbourhoods in the local area.

Tom Fellows, head of policy at SpaMedica, explained that the provider’s model delivers “scalable capacity” in community settings, supporting Trusts and improving patient access.

Alex Silvester, chief medical officer at SpaMedica, shared: “We are committed partners of the NHS and look forward to continuing to work with them to deliver high-quality patient care for residents across Bolton.”

Pictured: Alex Silvester, chief medical officer of SpaMedica with Kirith Entwistle, MP for Bolton North East.