Moorfields Eye Hospital
Encyclopedia
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS
eye
hospital
located in London
, United Kingdom
. It is the oldest and largest eye hospital in the world and is internationally renowned for its comprehensive clinical and research activities. The hospital is a major international tertiary care and training centre in ophthalmology
, and over half of all ophthalmologists in the UK have received specialist training at the hospital.
Together with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
, which is adjacent to the Hospital, it forms the world's largest site for eye
care and research. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a member of the UCL Partners
academic health science centre
.
The trust employs over 1,200 people across its eleven sites of operation. 24,000 ophthalmic operations are carried out yearly and over 260,000 patients are seen at the hospital annually. The trust also runs 10 outreach clinics in other parts of London including Ealing
, Tooting
, Mile End
and Tottenham
.
in 1805 as the London Dispensary for curing diseases of the Eye and Ear, by John Cunningham Saunders
, assisted by John Richard Farre. It moved to its present site in 1899, and was nationalised in 1948. These anniversaries gave it the unusual ability to celebrate a centenary in 1999 and a bicentenary
in 2005.
In February 2007, the new Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre (RDCEC) (Also known as the International children’s eye centre), built adjacent to the main city road site was opened.
, Charles Schepens
, Norman Ashton, Shomi S. Bhattacharya, Allen Foster, Gordon Johnson and Raymond Lund have carried out their research at Moorfields and the Institute. As of 2005, major ophthalmic research programmes at Moorfields were led by Professors Robin Ali, Shomi S. Bhattacharya, Alan C. Bird, Fred Fitzke, John Greenwood, Roger Hitchings, Peng T. Khaw, Phil Luthert, Susan Lightman, Tony Moore, Ted Garway-Heath, Steve Moss, Santa J. Ono
and Gary S. Rubin.
Moorfields was one of the first NHS Foundation Trust
s, and has developed a state of the art pharmaceutical arm (Moorfields Pharmaceuticals - www.moorfieldspharmaceuticals.co.uk).
Backing up NHS Direct
, Moorfields has a specialised ophthalmic advice line, Moorfields Direct.
, UAE in July 2007. It is located in the Al Razi Medical Complex. Currently, the hospital is exploring international healthcare accreditation
.
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
located in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is the oldest and largest eye hospital in the world and is internationally renowned for its comprehensive clinical and research activities. The hospital is a major international tertiary care and training centre in ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, and over half of all ophthalmologists in the UK have received specialist training at the hospital.
Together with the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is an institute within the Faculty of Brain Sciences of University College London and is based in London, United Kingdom...
, which is adjacent to the Hospital, it forms the world's largest site for eye
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
care and research. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a member of the UCL Partners
UCL Partners
UCL Partners is an academic health science centre located in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest academic health science centre in Europe, treats more than 1.5 million patients each year, has an annual turnover of around £2 billion and includes around 3,500 scientists, senior researchers and...
academic health science centre
Academic health science centre
An academic health science centre is a partnership between one or more universities and healthcare providers focusing on research, clinical services, education and training...
.
The trust employs over 1,200 people across its eleven sites of operation. 24,000 ophthalmic operations are carried out yearly and over 260,000 patients are seen at the hospital annually. The trust also runs 10 outreach clinics in other parts of London including Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
and Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
.
History
The hospital was founded on the MoorfieldsMoorfields
In London, the Moorfields were one of the last pieces of open land in the City of London, near the Moorgate. The fields were divided into three areas, the Moorfields proper, just north of Bethlem Hospital, and inside the City boundaries, and Middle and Upper Moorfields to the north.After the Great...
in 1805 as the London Dispensary for curing diseases of the Eye and Ear, by John Cunningham Saunders
John Cunningham Saunders
John Cunningham Saunders, M.D. was an English surgeon, known for his pioneering work on the surgery of cataracts. He was founder of the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital .-Life:Saunders was born at Huish, Devon, England...
, assisted by John Richard Farre. It moved to its present site in 1899, and was nationalised in 1948. These anniversaries gave it the unusual ability to celebrate a centenary in 1999 and a bicentenary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
in 2005.
In February 2007, the new Richard Desmond Children's Eye Centre (RDCEC) (Also known as the International children’s eye centre), built adjacent to the main city road site was opened.
Teaching and research
Today Moorfields Eye Hospital is a major centre for postgraduate training of ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, and nurses. It has also played a pivotal role in ophthalmic research. Sir Stewart Duke-Elder founded the Institute of Ophthalmology (now an integral part of University College London), and many key individuals, such as Sir Harold RidleyHarold Ridley (ophthalmologist)
Sir Nicholas Harold Lloyd Ridley was an English ophthalmologist who pioneered artificial intraocular lens transplant surgery for cataract patients.-Early years:...
, Charles Schepens
Charles Schepens
Charles L. Schepens was an influential Belgian ophthalmologist, regarded by many in the profession as "the father of modern retinal surgery", and member of the French Resistance....
, Norman Ashton, Shomi S. Bhattacharya, Allen Foster, Gordon Johnson and Raymond Lund have carried out their research at Moorfields and the Institute. As of 2005, major ophthalmic research programmes at Moorfields were led by Professors Robin Ali, Shomi S. Bhattacharya, Alan C. Bird, Fred Fitzke, John Greenwood, Roger Hitchings, Peng T. Khaw, Phil Luthert, Susan Lightman, Tony Moore, Ted Garway-Heath, Steve Moss, Santa J. Ono
Santa J. Ono
Santa J. Ono is a Canadian-American biologist and university administrator. He is currently Senior Vice President and University Provost at the University of Cincinnati.-Biography:...
and Gary S. Rubin.
Moorfields was one of the first NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trust
An NHS foundation trust is part of the National Health Service in England and has gained a degree of independence from the Department of Health and local NHS strategic health authority.Foundation Trusts are represented by the , .-Function:...
s, and has developed a state of the art pharmaceutical arm (Moorfields Pharmaceuticals - www.moorfieldspharmaceuticals.co.uk).
Backing up NHS Direct
NHS Direct
NHS Direct is the health advice and information service provided by the National Health Service for residents and visitors in England, with advice offered 24 hours a day, every day of the year through telephone contact on the national 0845 46 47 number, web based symptom checkers at and via...
, Moorfields has a specialised ophthalmic advice line, Moorfields Direct.
Overseas operations
Moorfields opened a branch in DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, UAE in July 2007. It is located in the Al Razi Medical Complex. Currently, the hospital is exploring international healthcare accreditation
International healthcare accreditation
Due to the near-universal desire for quality healthcare, there is a growing interest in international healthcare accreditation. Providing healthcare, especially of an adequate standard, is a complex and challenging process...
.