10 January 2023
The community-based ophthalmology provider, CHEC (Community Health and Eyecare), has announced plans to open a new treatment centre in Worcester.
The new site is due to open in March, and marks the first site to be launched in CHEC’s plans for continued expansion in 2023.
The Worcester site will be conveniently located for patients and aims to improve accessibility to healthcare services for local residents, the provider said.
The centre will provide ophthalmology and diagnostic endoscopy services for patients.
Jon Dore, chief operating officer at CHEC, said: “It is exciting to be able to announce our plans for 2023. The opening of our new centre in Worcester will further expand our high-quality services across England and help make healthcare more accessible for local residents.”
“Moreover, it demonstrates CHEC’s continued commitment to supporting the NHS in reducing waiting lists across the country,” Dore added.
CHEC has highlighted that both ophthalmology and endoscopy were highly affected by the pandemic, while ophthalmic treatment alone accounted for approximately 10% of NHS waiting lists in 2022.
Last year, CHEC opened five new treatment centres across England and launched its community services in Dorset.
Comments (4)
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Anonymous18 February 2023
A fascinating development, unknown to the Worcester NHS Trust or the LOC and apparently endorsed by an inaccessible ICB facilitating a direct conflict of interest as presumably CHEC will refer itself work ? Is this really integrated progress riding roughshod over whatever (and there aren't many) local arrangements there are ?
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Nicholas Rumney21 January 2023
What exactly will they do. Community optometry can and does do Urgent Eyecare, Glaucoma enhanced referral, low vision, paediatric, pre and post cat, medical CL, etc. If it’s surgical fair enough, non surgical ? Then the local commissioners have questions to ask !
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Anonymous18 January 2023
ICBs are increasingly wanting optometrists to look after ophthalmology patients in the community and with the ageing population and not enough ophthalmologists to see them, CHEC do not have a sustainable business model. Not sure why the AOP are championing CHEC when they disrespect optometrists by offering such low pay compared to other NHS contractors.
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Anonymous12 January 2023
It is such a pity that they do not pay their optometrists anywhere near their worth and certainly not as much as other providers, such as HealthHarmonie and Operose Health. It is also not truly community-based if they are operating from just one building.
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