A new eye health clinic and surgical centre set to reduce waiting times for local patients seeking treatment for sight-threatening conditions has just opened its doors.
Newmedica – one of the leading independent providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology services in England – opened a new clinic in Wakefield on Monday 23 November to serve the city and surrounding area and has already started seeing patients.
Patients – likely to have been referred by a primary care practitioner like a GP or optometrist – visiting the centre will be typically seen within two weeks for their first appointment, and then have their surgical treatment within the following four weeks. This helps eliminate any unnecessary delay or worry that patients may experience when told they need treatment for a sight-loss condition.
Local woman Mary Taylor was the first patient through the door at the new clinic and surgical centre, and was given a bunch of flowers to say thank you. She said: ‘I am pleased I chose Newmedica for my cataract consultation, as everyone was lovely and the clinic was easy to find. I could not have been happier with the treatment I received. All the staff were very welcoming, and seemed very confident. Any worries I had were quickly dispelled. Thank you everyone.’
The clinic is led by local consultant ophthalmologists Atul Varma and Kobus Pauw, alongside operational director Steve Kirk, who also heads up the Newmedica eye health clinic and surgical centre in Leeds. Both provide treatment and care for both NHS and private patients.
Atul Varma is a consultant ophthalmologist and Head of Clinical Service for Ophthalmology at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He also leads the diabetic retinal screening service for Leeds, Wakefield and North Kirklees. He has been working in ophthalmology for 25 years, and has performed almost 10,000 cataract surgeries during that time.
Kobus Pauw is also a consultant ophthalmologist at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. He has completed more than 16,000 cataract and refractive procedures and more than 2,000 eyelid and strabismus procedures during his time in practice.
Steve said: ‘We offer a high-quality and efficient service using the latest technology, and all our treatment and care is carried out and overseen by two experienced local consultant ophthalmologists who have a long history within the local NHS. So if you come to us you know you will be in safe hands.
‘We are really excited to be in Wakefield to help support the NHS locally, and are ready and waiting to serve local patients, taking all the necessary precautions to keep our staff and patients safe during the ongoing pandemic.
‘We offer a convenient location, plenty of parking, and a quick service with an experienced specialist who will help you get your life back to normal sooner rather than later.’
The new clinic will work in close partnership with the NHS locally, and in surrounding areas that stretch to Castleford, Featherstone, Hemsworth, Knottingley, Osset and Pontefract.