Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust officially marked the opening of its new wing at Ealing Hospital on Thursday 14 July.

Dr Waqaar Shah, the Royal College of General Practitioners clinical champion for eye health, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of the £0.6m expansion named Bee Wing.

The new wing is named after former Moorfields employee Bee Ong who was the sister in charge at Moorfields Eye Centre at Ealing for ten years, before retiring in 2014.

The event was hosted by Moorfields’ acting chairman Steve Williams and chief operating officer John Quinn.

The Deputy Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Simon Woodroofe and Mr Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing South also attended along with representatives from leading eye charities.

Councillor Woodroofe marked the occasion by inviting the audience to join him in a toast to the new wing, and Sister Ong.

The event showcased the new expansion unit which includes six examination rooms, two injection rooms for diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a new patient waiting area, clerical and administration area and accessible facilities.

Mr Robin Hamilton, clinical service director for Moorfields Eye Centre at Ealing, led tours of the facility to explain how Bee Wing has improved services and increased patient capacity at the site.

Mr Hamilton said: “We are very pleased with the results of the expansion, particularly the new age-related macular degeneration (AMD) injection suite, which means that we can treat more patients from the local community and the surrounding areas much closer to home”.

Dr Waqaar Shah said: “With increasing demand for eye care services in London, it’s great to see Moorfields reaching out and expanding their community eye centres.

This new wing will improve access to word-class eye care for local residents and I am delighted to have been able to declare Bee Wing at Moorfields Eye Centre at Ealing officially open.”

Councillor Simon Woodroofe, Deputy Mayor of Ealing said: “I am absolutely delighted at this good news about Ealing Hospital. This consolidates the relationship with Moorfields. I wish the unit well and everyone working in it”.

Moorfields Eye Centre at Ealing offers a range of services including outpatient clinics and surgical theatres for treating cataracts, glaucoma, general ophthalmology, paediatrics, strabismus, corneal and external diseases, medical retina and multiple other conditions.