A new NHS eye treatment suite has opened in the heart of Yeovil, offering critical injections for patients with serious eye conditions such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular oedema.
Located at the ophthalmology diagnostic centre in Yeovil’s town centre, the facility operates under Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and can treat up to 30 patients each day. This marks the first time residents can access these vital treatments locally, without the need to travel to the Yeatman Hospital in Dorset or Yeovil Hospital’s outpatient department.
Anna Bateman, the ophthalmology lead nurse for the trust in Yeovil, welcomed the new service: “Patients no longer need to travel to Yeovil Hospital for treatment. This shift from acute hospital care to community-based services aligns with the government’s NHS 10 Year Plan, making care more accessible and convenient.”
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The clinic serves both new referrals and patients requiring ongoing treatment. Many are referred by optometrists or the diabetic screening team after noticing symptoms such as distorted or wiggly lines, which often indicate loss of central vision.
The centre also hosts the Eye Neon research study, focusing on the likelihood of patients developing wet AMD in both eyes.
One of the clinic’s key advantages is its accessibility. “The injection suite is less than 100 steps from the main entrance — a vast improvement over the previous 600 steps from the Yeovil Hospital car park and 1,200 from Yeatman Hospital,” said Ms Bateman. This convenient location benefits patients with visual impairments who face challenges navigating long distances.
Situated in the Quedam Centre, the former Monsoon or Littlewoods store, the diagnostic centre was purposely designed with accessibility in mind. Developed in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the facility features clear signage, private vision testing lanes, and a compact layout to ease navigation for visually impaired patients.
Consultant ophthalmologist Mr Paritosh Shah highlighted the teamwork behind the project: “A dedicated injection suite greatly enhances the patient experience and prepares us for future increases in service demand. We are also grateful to the League of Friends of Yeovil Hospital, whose generous support helped us acquire essential equipment.”
Jackie Henderson, chair of the League of Friends, expressed enthusiasm about their role: “Supporting the ophthalmology service in purchasing equipment for treating wet macular degeneration was an easy decision. Mr Shah’s presentation clearly demonstrated the project’s worthiness, leading to a unanimous vote of support.”
The new eye treatment suite officially opened on Thursday, September 18, offering a brighter and more accessible future for patients in Yeovil and surrounding communities.