Eye patients in Rugby benefitting from treatment closer tohome

13:00 02/06/2015

Patients in Rugby who suffer from a common eye condition can now choose to be treated in the £2mspecialist macular unit at the Hospital of St Cross in Rugby.

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that, while painless, generallyleads to the gradual loss of central vision, and can sometimes cause a rapid reduction in vision as awhole.

Patients in the Rugby area were previously only able to choose other hospitals for their wet AMDtreatment. However, thanks to a change in contract, they can now choose to be seen by localclinicians in the macular unit at the Hospital of St Cross instead.

The unit, which was originally opened in 2011, is specifically designed for treating those with AMDand is split into different sections, including optometry, a photography bay, and consulting andtreatment rooms.

A number of patients, including Bob Dawson from Rugby, have already benefitted from the change.Bob, who has been receiving treatment on and off for over 10 years, was previously treated at theold Walsgrave Hospital, and then at Warwick Hospital.

Bob said:

"It's much better for me having treatments for my wet AMD at the Hospital of St Cross.

"When I was being treated at Warwick Hospital, it could take me up to 1 ½ hours to get there bypublic transport. Having treatment at the Hospital of St Cross is very much more convenient beingonly five minutes away from my house.

"I'm also happier being back under the care of Mr Pagliarini, who treated me when I was firstdiagnosed in 2004."

The team at the Hospital of St Cross has also been receiving messages of thanks from other grateful

patients from Coventry and Rugby.

This change is the latest step by the Trust to improve care for patients with wet AMD and other eyeconditions.

In January 2015, a new eye treatment room also opened in University Hospital so that patients fromthe Coventry area could choose to get eye injections closer to home.

Mr Sergio Pagliarini, Consultant Opthalmologist, said:

"We're seeing more patients with age-related macular degeneration than ever before due to thehigher numbers of older people in our local population.

"Now that Rugby patients can choose to visit their local hospital for treatment, we're able to offerthese patients appointments closer to home.

"The macular unit at the Hospital of St Cross also conducts a great deal of research into wet AMDand other macular conditions, giving patients the opportunity to get cutting-edge treatments as partof clinical trials."

David Moon, Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, said:

"We're delighted to be able to offer wet AMD treatment at the Hospital of St Cross to patients inRugby.

"NHS England's Five Year Forward View suggested that more services should be provided at smallerlocal hospitals in the future, and we're proud to play our part in making this a reality.

"This year we have further plans to expand services at the Hospital of St Cross, and so this is just thelatest development in this programme."

Patients who would be interested in being treated in the Macular Unit at the Hospital of St Crossshould speak to their GP.

Notes to editors

The Hospital of St Cross in Rugby offers a wide range of elective treatments, as well as an UrgentCare Centre for patients with minor illnesses and injuries who need help when it's urgent but notlife-threatening.

If you choose to be treated at the Hospital of St Cross you can benefit from caring and professionalstaff who are specially trained in treating your condition.

If patients from Rugby wish to be referred to The Hospital of St Cross, local GPs are able to benefitfrom a fast-track macular referral service dedicated to wet AMD.

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