New eye care centre opens in supermarket car park

Spa Medica said the facility was cheaper to set up than a new hospital unit

An eye care centre has opened in a supermarket car park, offering treatment in as little as four weeks.

SpaMedica said the facility, alongside the ASDA on Belmont Road in Hereford, "will support an estimated 21,000 residents in Herefordshire who are currently living with common eye-related conditions".

The company, which is an independent provider of NHS ophthalmology services, said it would also offer patients a transport service to get to appointments.

It said setting up a care centre in portable buildings avoided "the high cost and inflexibility of permanent hospital builds".

The total size of the facility is 3,200 sq ft (297.2 sq m), which is equivalent to around six swimming pools.

Jonathan Barnes, who will run the centre, said: "With over a quarter of Herefordshire residents aged over 65, accessible eye care is crucial."

He said the aim was to give patients access to "essential treatments close to home, minimising disruption and maximising convenience".