The occasion of World Sight Day 2017 last month offers the chance to reflect on ten years of Moorfields Eye Hospital in Dubai. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in the UK is the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world. In 2007, more than 200 years after its foundation in 1804, Moorfields moved beyond the UK to open its first overseas branch.
The hospital’s presence in the UAE has expanded over the years with the opening of a centre in Abu Dhabi last year and most recently a new collaboration with Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital in Dubai.
There were several challenges to establishing a footprint in the UAE: where to base the hospital for optimum impact and the creation of world class facilities; how to attract and recruit the professional staff required to support the team of consultants; and how to ensure equivalent high standards of quality and safety through a robust governance framework.
Since opening, Moorfields Dubai has treated more than 150,000 patients from more than 185 countries, managing some of the most complex eye conditions across the full spectrum of eye care services.
The challenge remains to recruit high quality consultants, although the UAE remains an attractive destination. Moorfields’ experience over the last 10 years may provide a blueprint for other healthcare providers to follow.
Mariano Gonzalez is managing director of Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai
