Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital, the charity providing volunteer support and patient experience services at Moorfields Eye Hospital, has pledged £1 million to Moorfields Eye Charity to support Oriel.

The pledge will help fund the state-of-the-art centre creating an environment for innovation and collaboration to flourish, delivering groundbreaking research and developing new treatments for patients faster than ever before.

Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital manage over 300 volunteers who provide vital services including supporting patients on arrival, guidance around the hospital, behind-the-scenes assistance in the pharmacy, and a much-valued handholding service giving trained emotional support to patients during procedures. Friends also operate the health information hub that provides patients with information about eye conditions and how to access support. They will continue to provide this practical and emotional support in the new centre. The new centre has been co-designed with patients, staff and partners to create the highest quality patient experience in an accessible environment.

Philanthropy is critical to achieving the new eye centre and Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital’s generous gift will help to make the centre a reality. Read more about Oriel’s philanthropic campaign.

Angela Smith, Friends of Moorfields chief executive, said:
“We’re delighted to support this pioneering eye centre of the future. Our gift is an important part of our vision and it emphasises the vital role Friends of Moorfields plays in ensuring the new centre delivers an outstanding experience for patients – a leading model in the NHS which will reach even more people around the world.”

Robert Dufton, Moorfields Eye Charity chief executive, said:
“We’re so very grateful to the Friends of Moorfields Eye Hospital for their donation. This gift is helping to make the new centre possible – with patients’ needs at its heart. It will enable the highest standards for patient care with the best clinicians, researchers and educators working together. It will help to save people’s sight and change lives.”