Summer Opening Date Confirmed for New Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital

Patients will begin using the new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital from 11 July, with NHS leaders confirming the opening date for the purpose-built facility in Sunderland city centre.

The eye emergency department will be the first service to move, opening at the new site at 2pm on 11 July. All remaining clinical services will transfer from the existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary over the following week, with the final services expected to relocate by 18 July.

The new hospital will replace the existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary on Queen Alexandra Road and will provide specialist ophthalmology services for patients across the North East of England. It will also house the region’s Cataract Treatment Centre, which includes an additional operating theatre to increase capacity for cataract surgery.

NHS leaders say the modern facility has been designed to meet growing demand for specialist eye care while providing improved clinical environments for patients and staff. Patients are being advised to continue attending appointments at the existing Eye Infirmary until they are informed that their service has moved.

The completion of the new hospital marks a significant investment in specialist ophthalmology services in the region and is expected to support increased treatment capacity as demand for eye care continues to rise.

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