Plans move forward for £36m “state-of-the-art” eye hospital in Sunderland

Plans for a new multi-million pound medical facility in the North East have been put forward.

Working in partnership with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT), Sunderland City Council has lodged a planning application for a new Eye Hospital.

The new Eye Hospital will replace the existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary facilities on Queen Alexandra Road in the South East of the city.

If planning is approved, it is expected that work will begin on the construction of the new hospital in spring next year, with the building set to open during 2024.

Ken Bremner MBE, chief executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, commented: “This is an important step forward in realising our ambitions for a new Eye Hospital in Sunderland.

“I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to get involved and given their views so far. The feedback is invaluable and means we can develop a building which truly meets the needs of those who will be using it.

“Our staff at the Eye Infirmary have also been pivotal to this work. It is their expertise that is the driving force behind our plans to make sure we keep looking to the future needs of our patients and create an innovative facility that will serve the region for many years to come.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, added: “Proposals to move the Eye Hospital to Riverside Sunderland are really exciting and the feedback from medical staff, patients and the public at large during an extensive engagement exercise carried out by STSFT, in partnership with colleagues from the council, has been fantastic.

“Riverside Sunderland is transforming into a stunning city focal point, and the addition of this world-class medical facility is a positive step not only for the hospital – which will be far better located for patient-access - but for the city centre, which will benefit from the increased footfall brought about by thousands of patients and staff accessing the Hospital every week.”