Bedford outreach launch

Press contact: Beverley Bailey
Tel: 020 7566 2424
Email: press.office@moorfields.nhs.uk

Although the latest outreach centre in Bedford opened its doors in October last year, the official handover was performed on 29th January by Bedford Hospital NHS Trust's CEO, Jean O’Callaghan and Moorfield’s Chairman, Sir Thomas Boyd Carpenter.

The ceremony took place in front of all the staff from Bedford who can now be officially welcomed into the Moorfields team, staff from Moorfields who will be working at the new outreach centre, as well as local press and VIPs. 

Lead consultants, including Ffolliat Fisher, Melanie Hingorani, Anu Sharma and Rupert Bourne, each made short presentations detailing the individual sub-specialties that Moorfields at Bedford can now offer to the local area.

Sir Thomas said: "We want to thank everyone at Bedford for giving Moorfields such a great welcome to the region. We look forward to working with you in Bedford to ensure that everyone in the region gets the continued expertise that they deserve.

Notes for editors

• Opened in 1805, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the world’s leading centres for ophthalmic treatment and teaching. With our research partner, the Institute of Ophthalmology, we are embarking on an exciting programme of research in order to find cures for diseases currently untreatable. It is the oldest and largest specialist eye hospital in the world,
• The entire range of eye diseases is treated at Moorfields from cataract, corneal and retinal conditions to complex diseases, and last year over 260,000 patients were treated. Our eminent reputation means that patients come to us not only from all over the UK, but from around the world. 
  Moorfields became one of the UK’s first NHS foundation trusts in 2004.
• More information about the hospital can be found at www.moorfields.nhs.uk