Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital will provide a new home for world-class eye services, which will serve communities across the North East. It is located on Plater Way in the city centre (on the former Vaux Brewery site as part of Riverside Sunderland), replacing the old facility on Queen Alexandra Road.
It is a purpose-built facility that will help meet growing demand for specialist ophthalmology care, representing the end of years of planning and investment and creates a modern new home for one of the country’s leading eye care services.
A spokesperson said that, between July 2025 and June 2026, the previous eye hospital had 2,935 referrals (11.94%) from the Tees Valley area. These were among a total of 24,581 during this time.
The hospital is the region’s first all-electric powered hospital and has been constructed with a series of environmental features, including a green roof on its energy centre, air source heat pumps and solar panels. It has electric vehicle charging points and disabled spaces in its 90-space car park, which is set aside for patient use.
It is also paper-light, as electronic records are used by the teams, and there is cycle storage for staff.
The hospital also boasts a coffee shop and café, which are run by the RVS charity, a baby feeding space, a quiet/faith room and it is the base of its Eye Care Liaison Officers.
