Sunderland’s new eye hospital will open next summer, offering a fit for the future building which will treat patients from across the region and beyond.
As part of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to the environment, it has a series of features built in to make it greener and more sustainable.
It will be the North East’s only all electric hospital, with no gas to be used on site. The energy centre, which is a separate building close to Silksworth Row, is almost complete. This will help power the hospital, which will become home to services across three floors when they move from the ageing Sunderland Eye Infirmary.
The centre has been given a green roof. This will not only boost the lifespan of the roof, but support biodiversity, improve air quality and reduce the need to heat and cool the structure.
The hospital building itself will be fitted with 100-plus solar panels, which will help cut its CO2 emissions and generate some of its power from sunlight. It has been wrapped in protective sheeting while work continues to install the windows to the building. This will make it watertight and help work progress inside as fitting out continues.
The central location of the new hospital, which is part of the Riverside Sunderland development in the city centre, will help cut travel times and energy for most visitors and be more accessible through public transport.
Other features include:
Paper-free at the point of care, with electronic patient records to be used instead of paper, designed especially with the eye care service in mind
Air Source Heat Pumps will help heat and cool the building when and where needed
Cycle storage next to the site
Access to 100-plus EV charging points at the Riverside Multi-Storey Car Park
Work is also under way to look at recycling old equipment and furniture which will not make the move from the existing site on Queen Alexandra Road.
Protective sheeting has been put around the building as work continues.
Fiona McKinley, the Trust’s Directorate Manager for Ophthalmology, said: “All our departments are excited to be making the move to our new home in the city centre. The building has really come on in recent weeks and months and we can see it taking shape.
“The new building will continue a long legacy of offering eye care in our city, and while Sunderland Eye Infirmary is much-loved, a modern building will make a world of difference.
“A huge part of that will be the green features it has, which will not only mean it is a sustainable site which reduces our emissions and keeps running costs down, but will make it a more comfortable environment to work in, while we’ll have the latest technology on hand to help make the working days and nights more efficient.
“The environmental features also work towards the NHS Green Plan, which is an important part of our efforts to play our part in net zero and reduce waste and resources.”
The building is being built by Kier and the development is a partnership with Sunderland City Council.
Kier has today shared this video which features patients Mary and her guide dog Zoom and Matron Carol Jobling, along with Kier’s Senior Project Manager Jason Hartnell, talking about the building and the difference it will make to the community.
Once open the hospital will offer care and treatment through its Emergency Department, the only dedicated eyesight service in the region.
It will also have a Retina Unit, which looks after patients with Macular conditions, imaging, where photos and scans are taken of the eye, a Treatment and Investigation Unit and a Surgical Day Unit.
The Out-Patient Department, Optometry, Orthoptics, in-patient ward, theatres and Cataract Treatment Centre and RNIB Eye Care Liaison Officer (ECLO) teams will join them in the move.
The hospital will also have its own dedicated Children’s Out-Patient Department, which is an addition to what is offered at the existing hospital.
The STS Charity, the Trust’s dedicated charity, is running the Vision Appeal to raise funds to make visiting and being treated at the hospital an even better experience. It will also support staff and bring in additional equipment which goes above and beyond the standard NHS kit.
A national campaign launched this week by Diabetes UK is highlighting the health checks you need when you have diabetes, why they’re so important and some of the reasons people might not be getting them.
Life with diabetes can feel like number, check and test overload. You might feel fine, or feel like you don’t have the time. Or maybe you’re not sure what checks you should be getting. But these regular diabetes health checks are vital to keep you healthy, so you can continue living life to the full.
Health checks are tests to check your average blood sugar levels and how well your heart and kidneys are working, as well as check-ups on your eyes and feet. They can help spot signs of any changes early on, so you can get all the help and support you need.
The number of people getting all their checks has increased in the last few years, but more than one in three people still aren’t getting all the checks they need (National Diabetes Audit data, 2023-24, England and Wales).
There are lots of reasons people aren’t getting all their health checks, from not being invited, to a lack of appointments or long waiting times. But it’s not that simple, and there are many other factors affecting people getting the care they need.
People with an interest in health and social care services are being invited to attend Healthwatch South Tyneside’s AGM next month.
The annual meeting, open to the public, is being held at The Learning Lounge at Hebburn Central from 10am to 12noon on Monday July 7, followed by a light lunch with the opportunity to network.
There will be an overview of the annual report and accounts, and guest speaker Louise Lydon, Chief Officer and Secretary of Community Pharmacy Gateshead, will give an update on the Pharmacy First Service.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, characterised by difficulties with concentration, energy levels, impulsiveness, or a person’s ability to manage their time.
People reporting experience of ADHD traits note significant impacts on their mental health, studies, work, and relationships.
In recent years, we have heard concerns about access to ADHD services from the public and local Healthwatch. To explore people’s experiences of getting an ADHD diagnosis and the impact of the condition on their lives, we conducted a poll with 2,579 adults living in England.All respondents were either diagnosed with ADHD or thought they had it.
The role of ADHD diagnosis
Out of 363 respondents who have already been diagnosed, most people agreed their diagnosis improved many aspects of their lives:
The vast majority of the respondents, 84%, said it helped them understand their behaviour and how their brain works.
For over half, 58%, it helped them find new strategies to manage traits, while the same number agreed it helped them look after their mental health and wellbeing.
Over half, 54%, agreed that being diagnosed for ADHD improved their self-esteem, and 47% agreed it helped them concentrate at work or while studying.
Almost a third, 30%, agreed they found budgeting and managing their finances easier.
Barriers and long waits
Despite the wide-ranging benefits of ADHD diagnosis, one in five, 21%, of people said they had a negative experience of the process from referral to diagnosis, while 17% said it was neither positive nor negative.
Seven in ten, 70%, of those who have been diagnosed said that they found the length of the process between referral and diagnosis difficult.
And almost two-thirds (64%) of people with an ADHD diagnosis said they received either no information or poor information while waiting for diagnosis.
Of the people who responded to the poll and who are currently waiting for an assessment, nearly half, 45%, had been waiting for over a year. Among this group, 10% had been waiting for three years or more.
Of all respondents, 963 people, 41%, said they didn’t seek a formal ADHD diagnosis, with 20% of this group citing long waits as a reason.
There is no official data on how many people are waiting for ADHD assessments. A recent BBC investigation suggested that at least 196,000 adults were on NHS waiting lists for ADHD assessments.
Our recommendations
We have set out four priorities for the Department for Health and Social Care, NHS England and other stakeholders, including collecting data on waiting times to understand demand, shifting more ADHD care to community care to reduce waiting times, better training for staff in both primary and community care, and tailored information and support for people on waiting lists.
We sit on and support the work of the NHS ADHD taskforce, which was set up in 2024 to address the challenges people face in getting the right support.
William Pett, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Healthwatch England, said: “Our report highlights that ADHD diagnosis plays a crucial role in helping people manage their symptoms, improving life quality and wellbeing. Unfortunately, our findings also paint a picture of long waits for clinical care and a lack of support for people while waiting. This creates a long and often difficult journey for people to get a formal diagnosis, which results in many people missing out on vital support.
“Our research suggests that the impacts of ADHD are more significant for those who think they have the condition than for those who have been diagnosed. ADHD traits can have a profound impact on people’s lives, including their mental health and ability to work, care for others and manage finances.
“People with diagnosed or suspected ADHD deserve timely access to the help they need, be it from the NHS or other teams.
“We believe that delivery of ADHD assessments by community NHS teams will help to meet the rising demand for support, while freeing up specialist teams to meet the more complex care needs that some people have.”
Alex’s story: ADHD diagnosis helped me manage my life and take care of my child.
Alex, 32, from Wakefield, said that being diagnosed helped her in many ways: “It has helped my identity and why I am the way I am. It’s also built up my self-esteem and helped me find ways to work with my brain rather than against it. I’m on medication and I feel like I can take better care of my daughter, like getting her ready for school on time.”
Before Alex got diagnosed, she would become very stressed with routine tasks and housework: “I would put off tasks for days. I just couldn’t cope with normal things or keep a routine. It made living exhausting.”
But getting diagnosed wasn’t easy for Alex. Having heard about long waits for ADHD assessments on the NHS and people not being taken seriously, she decided to have a private assessment, a year after she thought she might have the condition. “I’m lucky I could afford going private, but I know many people can’t. If you have to wait for years for an assessment, you miss out on life-changing support.”
The YouGov commissioned poll was conducted between 8 to 27 January 2025 with 2,579 adults with ADHD in England. It was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all English adults (aged 18+) who have ADHD. This sample comprises:
363 people who have already been diagnosed with ADHD
336 people who were waiting for an ADHD assessment
109 people whose GP has refused to refer them for an ADHD assessment
808 people who haven’t yet seen their GP for an ADHD assessment
963 people who don’t want a formal ADHD diagnosis.
Weekly vaccination data shows NHS teams have now delivered over three million (3,049,506) jabs since the rollout kicked off on April 1.
But with just under six weeks to go, the NHS is reminding those at highest risk of getting seriously unwell if they catch the virus to come forward for their free vaccination and top up their protection this Spring, including those aged 75 and over and people who are immunosuppressed.
Local teams have been working to make it as easy as possible for people to get jabbed close to home, including hosting vaccination pop-ups at a fire station in the Midlands or running mobile vaccination buses in the East of England.
Thousands of appointments are available every day across the country, with most happening at pharmacies and GP practices, and they will continue to run until Tuesday 17 June.
NHS teams have now invited all eligible people to come forward for their jabs, having already sent over 9.7 million invitations, and teams are now sending reminders via text, email, NHS App messages or letters.
Visits to care homes will continue to run over the next six weeks, with two thirds of care homes having been visited in just over a month.
NHS staff will also continue to organise visits to older adult care homes and eligible housebound patients, with today’s data showing uptake from older adults in care homes is now at 50%.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “COVID-19 is not just a winter illness and we cannot let the recent sunshine fool us into thinking it is no longer a threat.
“The virus continues to be dangerous for those most at-risk, particularly older people and those with weakened immune systems, so we are encouraging all those who are eligible to come forward as soon as possible and join the three million people already vaccinated so far over the last month.
“Previous immunity can wane over time, so it is important to top-up your protection and while we are sending out invites, you do not need to wait for this to book – just visit the NHS website, use the NHS App or call 119 to get an appointment in your diary.”
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Ashley Dalton, said: “The COVID-19 vaccine is a crucial weapon in the fight to protect those most vulnerable to serious illness.
“That is why it is essential that everyone who is eligible for the spring jab gets it as soon as possible and tops up their protection.
“You can get yours for free at thousands of sites open across the country, including local pharmacies and GP practices.”
As well as booked appointments, there are thousands of walk-in appointments available every day, with a full list of local locations available on the NHS walk-in finder.
If you – or a member of your family – has had an allergic reaction to food they have bought and consumed, South Tyneside Council wants to know about it.
Local authorities across the North East have joined forces and are working alongside the NHS to change the lives of people with anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which results in around 20 deaths each year in the UK.
It is estimated that one in 300 people will experience anaphylaxis at some time in their life. In the North East in 2019 there were 76 cases of anaphylaxis under the age of 18 and one fatality.
A common cause of anaphylaxis is the consumption of or exposure to food allergens – most commonly in peanuts, tree nuts, cow’s milk, egg, fish and shellfish, and sesame seeds/sesame oil.
An allergic reaction can include:
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Swelling of the lips, face and eyes (angioedema)
Sneezing or an itchy, runny or blocked nose
Tummy pain
Itchy skin (or a rash)
Coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, noisy breathing or a hoarse voice
Feeling sick or being sick
Diarrhoea
If you have bought or consumed food that you or a family member had an allergic reaction to, please report this as soon as possible after experiencing the allergic symptoms. You can report your concerns online via www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/allergic-reactions (or scan the QR code on the poster here). This is the single point of contact for the North East hosted by Redcar & Cleveland Council.
Your local authority will then investigate your concern in order to help reduce food allergy-related illness and deaths.
Protective sheeting has been put around the building as work continues.
Local authorities across the North East have joined forces and are working alongside the NHS to change the lives of people with anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which results in around 20 deaths each year in the UK.
