Countess of Chester Hospital gets new retinal scanner after £200,000 community fundraising appeal
A new retinal scanner is now in use at the Countess of Chester Hospital after a community fundraising appeal raised £200,000 in 12 months.
The scanner, installed at the Westminster Eye Centre, was purchased entirely through the Countess Charity’s Retinal Scanner Appeal, with donations from patients, families and local businesses funding everything from coffee mornings to parachute jumps.
More than 90 patients a day attend the Westminster Eye Centre needing retinal scans, including patients referred from north Wales through Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The new equipment takes a wider image of the back of the eye in a single moment, allowing staff to identify problems in areas that existing technology can miss.
The scan is quick, painless and non-invasive and in many cases does not require eye drops.
Because it needs very little patient cooperation, it is easier to use with children and adults with additional needs — a significant limitation of the previous equipment, which required patients to stay still and follow instructions throughout.
Hannah Bullock, Head Orthoptist at the Westminster Eye Centre, said: “This scanner will make a real difference to the people we care for.
“It gives us a much clearer and wider view of the back of the eye, which means we can spot problems earlier and give patients more certainty about what’s going on.
“It also makes the whole experience easier — especially for children and people who find it hard to keep still — because the scan is so quick and comfortable.”
Angie Lopez, Head of Fundraising at the Countess Charity, said: “Every donation, every sponsored challenge and every act of support helped make this possible.
“The generosity shown has been incredible, and it means patients at the Countess will benefit from this technology for many years to come.”
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
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