Welcome to Wearside’s new world-leading hospital.

It’s been rising into Sunderland’s skyline for just over two years - and the city’s ‘game-changing’ new £48m healthcare facility is now complete.

A new name has been unveiled as Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital, reflecting 200 years of specialist care in the city | Sunderland Echo

placeholder image — A new name has been unveiled as Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital, reflecting 200 years of specialist care in the city | Sunderland Echo

Today, May 29, marked a major milestone in one of the key jigsaw pieces of the Riverside development as construction partner Kier officially handed over the keys.

Now in the hands of the NHS, work turns to kitting out the facility, which replaces the ageing Eye Infirmary in Queen Alexandra Road, ahead of it opening to patients later this summer.

Patrick Melia SCC, Carol Jobling Matron Ajay Kotagiri, Ken Bremner STSFT at the new name unveiling | Submitted

A new name has also been unveiled, with the official moniker being Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital, reflecting two centuries of specialist eye healthcare in Sunderland, with the very first infirmary opening in 1836 in High Street East.

“It’s the same outstanding care in a new home fit for the future,” said Ken Bremner MBE, Chief Executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.

The main atrium at the new hospital | Sunderland Echo

As the NHS faces ever-increasing demand on specialist eye care services, the new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital will see all clinical services move across from the existing site in Ashbrooke, including the region’s Cataract Treatment Centre.

Facilities are vastly improved, meaning they can treat more patients in a building more fitting to their needs, right down to the Braille signage, and a design of different coloured floors and more, all designed with visually-impaired people in mind.

The new Cataract Treatment Centre has an extra theatre so that it can treat even more patients in future. | Sunderland Echo

The development has been made possible thanks to partnership working between the NHS, Sunderland City Council and construction partner Kier.

NHS staff, patients and partners from the voluntary sector including the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), have also been heavily involved in helping design the new facility working closely with Kier.

Sean Fenner MD of Kier, Patrick Melia SCC, Ken Bremner STSFT, Dan Doherty Kier | Sunderland Echo

Councillor Chris Eynon, leader of Sunderland City Council, said the opening marked an important chapter in the transformation of Sunderland city centre.

"Our residents deserve the best, and this - as we have seen today - is a world-class facility, that will deliver exceptional care to patients,” said the new leader.

“As people from outside of Sunderland come to access this hospital, they will see our transforming city centre and know that this is a place of ambition and a fantastic place to live, work and play."

Matron for Ophthalmology, Carol Jobling, is excited to treat patients in the new facility | Sunderland Echo

Matron for Ophthalmology, Carol Jobling, said staff and patients are excited about the new and improved facility, which includes a patient car park, as well as a floor in the Riverside car park for staff.

“It’s so exciting, overwhelming, it’s a fantastic building,” she said. “We face multiple challenges where we are currently, so to be able to move in eventually into this fit for purpose building is amazing.

“Sunderland Eye Infirmary has been part of Sunderland for 200 years and for us to have a central place in the city centre is really important. It’s good for transport links for patients coming to us, it brings footfall to the city centre and is really good for the regeneration of the city.”

The ward is called Queen Alexandra Ward in honour of the former site | Sunderland Echo

Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said the opening later this summer will bring a boost of footfall to the city centre.

“This will bring so many people into the city centre,” he told the Echo. “That will bring so much footfall for shops, for bars, for restaurants as well. It’s all part of animating the city centre and keeping that confidence going that Sunderland is a place to invest - and it’s just a fabulous building.”

Ken added: “Today is not only a huge day for us as a Trust, but for the NHS regionally and nationally as we continue to build services fit for the future.

“We are exceptionally proud that Sunderland is home to the North East’s only specialist eye hospital, but we know its impact is felt far and wide, beyond the city, thanks to the care and treatment we deliver.

“Getting the keys to the building is the next step in this journey as we continue to look after people’s eyes, from our very young patients, to helping those in their later years. They will soon have access to an outstanding facility to match the excellent eye care inside.”

The new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital will open to patients later this summer. Patients should continue to attend their appointments as usual at Sunderland Eye Infirmary until they are told otherwise.

In the coming weeks, the NHS will share more detailed information about the phased opening dates with a public information campaign planned so that people know exactly when services will move.