Sunderland opens new £50 million NHS eye hospital as emergency care moves in first

What is the background?

Sunderland Eye Infirmary on Queen Alexandra Road has treated patients from across North East England and North Cumbria for more than 70 years. It houses the region’s only dedicated specialist eye hospital, including a nationally renowned Cataract Treatment Centre and a 24/7 Eye Emergency Department.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust began planning a replacement in 2021. Sunderland City Council granted planning permission for a new £36 million eye hospital that November, part of the Riverside Sunderland regeneration scheme on the city centre’s former Vaux brewery site. A revised application followed in November 2022, and the Trust awarded the build contract to construction firm Kier in September 2023.

What happened?

The new Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital opened its doors for the first time on Saturday 11 July 2026. Its 24/7 Eye Emergency Department moved first, opening at 2pm that day, the earliest service to switch from the old infirmary to the new city-centre building.

Carol Jobling, Matron for Ophthalmology at the Trust, said: “We are now working as quickly as possible to get things ready to move our eye services across to the new site.” She added: “Our eye emergency department will move first and open at 2pm on Saturday 11 July,” and confirmed the rest would “move across, step by step, by Thursday 23 July.”

All remaining eye services, including the Cataract Treatment Centre, move in stages over the following twelve days, with the transition due to finish by 23 July 2026.

How did it happen?

Kier built the 112,000 sq ft hospital in partnership with Sunderland City Council, completing construction on schedule in just over two years. The firm handed the keys to the Trust on 29 May 2026, starting a mobilisation phase covering deep cleaning, furniture installation, medical equipment setup, and IT systems configuration ahead of the phased opening.

Trust Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE said: “Getting the keys to the building is the next step in this journey as we continue to look after people’s eyes.” Kier’s Regional Director for the North and Scotland, Dan Doherty, called the project “a testament to the strength of collaboration,” while Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Chris Eynon said: “Our residents deserve the best, and this is a world-class facility.”

Why does it matter?

The move gives the region two services it has never had on-site before: a dedicated Surgical Day Unit and a Treatment and Investigation Unit, alongside an extra operating theatre added to the Cataract Treatment Centre to increase how many patients it can treat. An Eye Clinic Liaison Officer service, run with support from the RNIB, continues to help patients adjusting to sight loss.

For patients such as Michael Boys, a 40-year-old from Morpeth, Northumberland, who has been treated for congenital cataracts and glaucoma his whole life, the new hospital replaces a site he has attended since childhood with a purpose-built specialist centre. The Trust is urging patients to call the 24/7 eye emergency line, 0191 56 999 52, before travelling to hospital during the changeover.

What were the key results?

• £50 million invested in the new hospital, up from the £36 million planning estimate approved in 2021
• 112,000 sq ft of new specialist eye-care space built on the former Vaux brewery site in Riverside Sunderland
• 24/7 Eye Emergency Department relocated first, opening at 2pm on Saturday 11 July 2026
• Full transition of all remaining services, including the Cataract Treatment Centre, due to complete by Thursday 23 July 2026
• Two services offered on-site for the first time: a dedicated Surgical Day Unit and a Treatment and Investigation Unit
• £14 million of construction spend went to local suppliers, including £12.9 million with small and medium-sized businesses, plus 288 hours of student careers support during the build

What happens next?

The Trust says it will keep moving services in stages through mid-July, contacting patients directly about appointment locations during the changeover. Once complete, the 90-space on-site car park and city-centre location replace the infirmary’s Queen Alexandra Road site, used for more than 70 years.

The Trust has published updates on its website, stsft.nhs.uk/neweyehospital, and says it will confirm when every service has finished moving. Sunderland City Council expects the hospital to anchor further growth in the wider Riverside Sunderland development, which also includes the Culture House community venue, also delivered by Kier.