New eye hospital 'designed for patient comfort'

27 December 2025

Jonny ManningNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Two of Sunderland's eye care liaison officers, Mary Hall and Jo Hewitson, both understand what it is like to live with sight loss

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Mary Hall and Jo Hewitson. Ms Hall (left) has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing large dark-lensed glasses. Ms Hewitson has hair light hair tied up in a ponytail. Both are wearing blue scrubs. — Two of Sunderland's eye care liaison officers, Mary Hall and Jo Hewitson, both understand what it is like to live with sight loss

The comfort of patients with sight loss is being built into the design of a new eye hospital, health bosses have said.

The facility in Sunderland is set to open next year and its layout, visibility and lighting have all been designed with input from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

It will include an eye care liaison officer (ECLO) room at the front of the building which will be well lit and fitted with high-contrast colours and comfortable seating for patients.

RNIB practice lead Cathie Burke said she was "super optimistic" about the new hospital as the ECLO rooms in the current site are "hidden away at the back".

"In the new hospital we'll be right by the welcome desk on the left as you walk through the front door," she said.

"It will be a showcase for what ECLO services could be like everywhere."

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Sunderland's new eye hospital which is nearly built. The large red brick building has rows of tall, slim windows along its three storeys. — The new eye hospital has been designed so patients do not get an unpleasant glare from large windows

Thought has also been given to the positioning of the new building's windows.

The existing Sunderland Eye Infirmary was built when it was deemed sunlight was vital for patients to recover, so large windows were installed facing the sun.

However the new hospital has been built differently, as many patients suffer discomfort due to glare.

Sunderland's ECLOs Mary Hall and Jo Hewitson, who support patients with eye conditions, have both been registered severely sight impaired which has given them a personal understanding of the challenges of sight loss.

Ms Hewitson was diagnosed at Sunderland Eye Infirmary and said it was great to now be part of the service.

"My favourite moment of the job is when there's a lightbulb moment in the room and patients realise they are not on their own," she said.

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