We recently paid for new seating in the level 1 waiting area at Bristol Eye Hospital. Senior staff nurse Emma Sudol told us that replacements were “desperately needed” as the area’s old chairs were worn and torn.

Made in Britain by Ocura Healthcare Furniture, the new chairs have antimicrobial vinyl coverings and an ergonomic tub shape that provides an elevated level of comfort and support, which is especially appreciated when patients have to wait a while to be seen.

This grant cost £2,381.

24 October 2025

We recently paid for two indirect ophthalmoscopes, which are used to gain better imaging of eyes, particularly within paediatrics, to diagnose a range of different conditions. The Vantage Plus is the best device of its kind, providing 3-dimensional stereoscopic views of the retina through all pupil sizes, making examinations faster and easier.

One headset was for the paediatric clinic in Weston General Hospital, where the original version had been condemned by the hospital’s repair services. The second device will be used in the pre-op assessment unit.

This grant cost £6,970 for the two devices.

15 October 2025

We recently paid for a new B-Scan Plus to replace an old, faulty and “temperamental” predecessor.

Laura Barber, Ophthalmic Nurse Practitioner at the BEH, writes: “The B Scan is an essential diagnostic tool in ophthalmology, particularly for patients with dense cataracts, vitreous haemorrhage, or trauma where direct visualisation of the posterior segment is not possible. It allows us to assess the internal structures of the eye quickly and accurately, which is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment, especially in emergency situations. Your continued support makes a real difference to the care we can provide, and we are incredibly grateful.”

This grant cost £9,520.

25 September 2025

A patient who had recently undergone macular surgery told staff that it would have been helpful to have more information about what to expect after such complex surgery.

Believing that future patients having this surgery would benefit, he drew diagrams of the procedure and sent them to the surgery team. The team engaged the NHS Medical Illustration team to see how best they could be used.

The illustration team said they could use them as part of an animated video that could then be shown to patients and asked us to fund that, which we of course agreed.

8 May 2025

In Sight is our annual newsletter for members and supporters, and the latest edition has recently been published.

The magazine’s main emphasis is on the grants we’ve made over the past twelve months – for new equipment, explanatory videos, room refurbishments at the hospital, and more. Other stories feature some of the year’s donations and fundraising efforts, news of the charity’s trustees, officers and advisors, and a farewell to Dinah Harrison, who has stepped down after nearly 48 years as a trustee.

Paper copies of the current edition are available in the hospital and PDFs of any of the last four years’ editions can be downloaded from our In Sight page.

4 May 2025

For many years we struggled with the best way for people to contact us by telephone. We don’t have an office in the hospital and publishing home phone numbers was problematic, not least when our personnel change. Ideally we needed a unique number that would forward calls or take messages, but we couldn’t do this cost effectively.

However, since 2022 Core Telecom have provided our 0300 102 4556 phone number which, as a charity, is completely free of all charges for us and our callers. We have recently added a menu to this so you can choose who to speak to. See Contact.

We’re very grateful to Mahmood Mazhar for this charitable gesture and we recommend Core Telecom to any charities looking to reduce their telecommunication expenses. You can contact them at charities@coretelecom.co.uk or 0330 111 0033.

3 May 2025

We welcomed Richard Adams (pictured) as a new trustee in November 2024. Richard is a retired engineer from Rolls Royce. He is an active member of the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust and the South Gloucestershire Museums Group. As a new co-opted trustee, he served until our AGM on 27 May 2025, when he was elected by the Friends’ members.

We also welcomed Jim Duggan onto our Finance subcommittee in November and he has since taken over as our Treasurer from Simon St Leger-Harris. Jim is a retired partner of our accountants Albert Goodman; as he is still working for Albert Goodman part-time, he has not become a trustee lest this give rise to a conflict of interest with his firm.

1 May 2025, updated 27 May

Simon St Leger-Harris, our retiring Treasurer, held house parties for friends and family to celebrate his 70th birthday. In lieu of presents, he requested donations in favour of the Friends and raised £1,736.

Simon joined the Friends after he had retinal detachments in both eyes at the same time and underwent a series of operations over three years, initially to repair the retinas and later to correct cataracts, a squint and double vision, all normal side effects of the treatment.

“It was difficult for me to find the words to adequately thank all the many staff who saved my sight,” Simon said. “At the end of it all, with artificial lenses, my sight was actually better than ever before – and, 16 years later, still is.”

2 April 2025

James was a trustee for six years, giving expert support as chairman of our governance sub-committee. Unfortunately his workload for the Charity Commission limited his ability to contribute fully and attend meetings so he felt he must retire. However, he has kindly offered to give advice whenever we need it in future.

Shown in the photo, Ben is the service lead in optometry for Medical Retina Services at BEH. He became a trustee in 2021; his knowledge and guidance were invaluable to the non-medical trustees among us, explaining the function of medical equipment for which grant applications had been submitted and why help with funding was needed.

1 April 2025

We have contributed towards the cost of refurbishing the doctors’ mess and library in the hospital. This area is used for administrative work, clinical audit and as a space for taking breaks and resting while on call.

The NHS funded some of the work including the purchase of new comfortable seating and storage lockers. We paid to install and plumb a new sink, water boiler and refrigerator which the NHS could not prioritise ahead of other demands for expenditure on clinical equipment or projects with health and safety risks.

The new space directly benefits the BEH’s 30 specialist registrar, clinical fellow and specialty doctors.

This grant cost £5,838.

12 March 2025

We have replaced an ophthalmic chair which had broken beyond repair. This vital equipment is needed to ensure that patients are in the correct position for vitreoretinal injections.

It was requested urgently and we responded immediately. It was being used for patients on the day it was delivered to the hospital and is in constant use to provide vision-saving treatments for 30 patients per day, 6 days per week.

This grant cost £5,576.

11 March 2025