25th January 2021
The Ophthalmology Macular Service has opened a new modular unit on the Musgrave Park Hospital site. This unit has two injection rooms and an OCT retinal scanner. There are also parking spaces reserved for macular patients outside the unit.
Stewart McGimpsey, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, said: “We are delighted to be able to introduce a new modular building on the Musgrave Park site to increase our capacity.
“The lack of facilities in the Mater Hospital has caused a lot of stress and anxiety for our patients. This unit introduces two new injection suites and an imagine suite that means we will be able to expand capacity and hopefully give more injections and more treatment in a more timely manner to our patients.”
Raymond Curran, Director of Ophthalmic Services at the Health and Social Care Board explained that this unit would support patients getting access to services quicker. He said: “The capacity of the Macular Unit has been a challenge for some years and Covid hasn’t helped. So this is an opportunity to both address the Covid challenges but also expand capacity so that patients get access to time critical treatments.
“I think it’s a wonderful facility and I hope patients will enjoy coming here as best they can.”
The modular unit will help address the delays and anxiety of patients caused by restrictions in accessing the Macular Service at the Mater Hospital site.
The Macular Service at the Mater Hospital remains open and delivers treatment for patients with macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy. However, the number of patients that can be safely treated has decreased during the pandemic.