Plans for a new eye care education and research centre called Oriel have been given the go-ahead in London.
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity to move services to the new integrated care centre, which is located on the site of St Pancras Hospital.
The centre will form part of the New Hospital Programme to utilise the expertise of partners to allow collaborative working between researchers and clinicians in order to speed up the delivery of therapies and treatments for patients.
Martin Kuper, Moorfields Chief Executive, stated: “This is the final approval we have been waiting for, turning Oriel from a proposal into a reality. Our next step will be to start construction work in the new year to build our world-leading centre, which will support our reputation for excellence and our ability to deliver outstanding care for our patients.”
Professor Alan Thompson, Dean of the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, commented: “Oriel will allow us to drive forward the improvements to support our work in the long-term and strengthen our partnership with Moorfields in delivering real benefits for patients. This next phase of the project is exciting as we start building the centre that will enable more collaborative and innovative working.”
Natalie Forrest, Senior Responsible Owner for the New Hospital Programme, added: “This funding will enable the team to further improve the outstanding care they provide, offering a modern environment for clinical and non-clinical staff, patients, and visitors. By working together and taking a collaborative and forward-thinking approach we can help the country to deliver modern healthcare environments, faster, and to the highest standards.”
