Last op at eye hospital

Irene Pearson, aged 76, was last on the list with a cataract operation on her left eye at the Chapel Ash site.

The surgery only took half an hour yesterday and Mrs Pearson said it was a great Christmas present that may leave her not needing to wear glasses any more.

All surgery will now move to New Cross Hospital as part of a controversial £4.5 million shift of ophthalmic services.

Mrs Pearson, a grandmother of Regis Road, Tettenhall, was presented with flowers by staff before her operation was carried out by eye doctor Shanka Ramanathan. She is pictured with Sister Maisie Linton and head nurse Linda Ward.

She said she was delighted to be treated at the Compton Road site but sad it was closing down.

"I had my right cataract done which made a lot of difference and when they do this it will be one hundred per cent better," she said.

"I didn't know I was the last until yesterday so it will be a good Christmas present, but I'm sad it is shutting because it has been here so long."

The Infirmary will stay open until February and provide most eye services before everything switches to New Cross. From January, outpatients, ophthalmic A&E, orthotics and pre-admission services will remain at the infirmary with routine elective surgery relocated to the T-block at New Cross.

Head nurse Linda Ward, who has worked at the site for 28 years, said the closure was sad but staff were ready to move.

"It is a sad day in a lot of ways but we have to look forward and we are looking forward to working in new premises and continuing the high standard of care we give to our patients," she said.

"It has been going on for two years so we have reached that time when people are resigned to going and looking forward to it."

The change was originally due to take place in October but was postponed because of problems building the new theatres at T-block.

The first operation to be held at New Cross will be on January 8.