New eye hospital planned for Sunderland’s former brewery site

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has unveiled plans to build a new Eye Hospital in the centre of Sunderland as part of the City’s ambitious riverside masterplan at the former Vaux Brewery site.

The current Sunderland Eye Infirmary is one of few specialist standalone eye hospitals in the whole country and the region’s only dedicated centre for ophthalmology care.  It is home to the Regional Cataract Treatment Centre and widely regarded across the NHS, both regionally and nationally, as a centre of excellence for eye services, caring for patients from across the North East, Cumbria and beyond.

The plans envisage all clinical services currently provided from Sunderland Eye Infirmary will transfer to the new state-of-the-art facility.

Clinical Director for Ophthalmology Services and Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Jean-Pierre Danjoux said: “Staff at the Eye Infirmary are absolutely thrilled at the prospect of a brand-new hospital as there is no doubt that our current building is dated and no longer fit for purpose.  

“The services we offer are nothing short of world-class with outstanding patient feedback and they deserve an environment to match.”  

Mr Ken Bremner MBE, Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our ambitions for a new Eye Hospital in Sunderland have been a long time in the making.  Announcing our development plans is a historic moment for the Trust and represents a major investment into the local NHS thanks to our collaboration with Sunderland City Council.”