CHEC has achieved Investors in People status, with its company values and culture pinpointed as being fundamental to the company’s success. 

Achieving the accreditation for the first time since it was established in 2012, CHEC has been recognised for its ability to lead and inspire team members; deliver a structured programme of work with ongoing performance management; achieve continuous improvement and create sustainable success. 

Specific feedback included that team members are ‘overwhelmingly happy and proud to be a part of the organisation’, seeing CHEC as ‘a long-term employer with whom they want to develop their career well into the future’. Assessors noted the ‘close-knit community feel of CHEC’, and described it as a place where feedback is always ‘constructive and positive’.

For more than a decade, CHEC has been working in partnership with the NHS to increase patient choice and provide access to timely care and treatment locally. Through its community hospitals nationwide, CHEC makes specialist eyecare and gastroenterology services more readily accessible in local communities by offering patients greater flexibility and reduced waiting times. In 2022/23, CHEC consulted over 335,000 patients, with an average referral to treatment time of less than four weeks.

In the last 12 months, CHEC has increased its number of sites nationally from 14 to 21, creating 135 new jobs; has appointed to various positions in its senior leadership team, and has launched an enhanced market strategy which brings with it an improved business structure and a broader range of development opportunities for the CHEC team.

Amanda Williams, Chief People Officer for CHEC, said of the accreditation: “People are at the heart of what we do. Our company mission originates in improving patient choice and wellbeing, but we know that to achieve that we must focus much of our attention on our team, ensuring they’re happy, safe and supported at work.

“Achieving Investors in People status proves we are getting that right. The feedback from our assessors is that we are clear in our company objectives, and that we work collectively – as team – to achieve them; that our values of care, passion, togetherness, listening and focus are embedded at every level of the organisation; and that we give our people the information, authority, knowledge and skills to do their job well.

“As a relatively new organisation, we have areas we want to improve on as we move forward. This accreditation gives us the perfect springboard from which to make considered and strategic decisions which ensure our team continues to excel, collaborate and thrive during their time with us.”

CHEC marks five year milestone with community celebration

Staff and patients at CHEC Stoke, the Outstanding CQC rated hospital, were celebrating after the community-based healthcare provider marked five years of working in partnership with the NHS to increase patient choice and reduce waiting times. 

“It’s hard to believe it’s five years ago that we welcomed our first patients to CHEC Stoke,” says Joshua Phillips, Hospital Manager. “We’d like to thank the local community for choosing CHEC, trusting us to deliver the highest standards of care, and for joining us to celebrate our fifth anniversary!” 

Since first opening its doors at the Parklands site in 2019, CHEC Stoke has provided ophthalmology services to more than 26,441 patients and completed over 13,888 cataract surgeries. The community hospital has also succeeded in consistently maintaining very low waiting times, with patients currently able to access treatment one week or less. 

“I’m so proud to be celebrating five years of CHEC Stoke, and to have been part of CHEC since 2018,” explains Kim Garrett, Deputy Hospital Manager. Since CHEC Stoke opened, Kim has undertaken various theatre roles, qualified as an Ophthalmic Scrub Assistant, and became Deputy Hospital Manager in 2023.

“To have the flagship site get to its fifth anniversary is a massive achievement and I’m delighted to be celebrating with our fantastic team,” Kim continues. “Thank you to Nick Brownfield, Waseem Qureshi, Tahira Rehman, Ruth Balliu, and Carolynne La’Course for their commitment to our hospital since its doors opened five years ago, and to the wider team who work so hard to provide our patients with the highest quality care.”

Over the last five years, CHEC Stoke has pioneered a series of initiatives that make it easier for patients to access its community-based healthcare services. These include a free Home to Hospital™ pick up service and an online patient booking app. 

“As we mark the fifth anniversary of CHEC Stoke, I’m overjoyed at the strides we’ve made and the lives we’ve touched,” comments Imran Rahman, CHEC CEO and Consultant Ophthalmologist. “From day one, our mission was clear: deliver healthcare with top-tier medical expertise, compassion, and innovation. Today, I can proudly say, mission accomplished, and with CQC Outstanding cementing that thought!”

“Our stellar team has not only delivered exceptional patient care but also embraced innovation with open arms. Cutting-edge tech, data-driven solutions – we’re not just keeping up; we’re setting the pace,” continues Imran. “Huge thanks to our Stoke family – staff, healthcare heroes, partners, and our amazing patients. You’ve all been instrumental in making CHEC Stoke the success it is today.”

CHEC has established a stronghold for community healthcare provision across the Central England region with hospitals in Coventry and Nottingham. Throughout the UK, CHEC now has more than 20 hospitals.  

“As we celebrate, let’s look to the future with excitement,” concludes Imran. “The next five years promise even more groundbreaking innovation and unwavering dedication to our community. Thank you for being part of our incredible journey.” 

Community healthcare provider marks Lancashire surgeon’s major milestone.

A surgeon for CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is celebrating after completing more than 1,000 cataract procedures in just seven months with the organisation. 

Dr Moemen Elnawawy joined CHEC’s Preston hospital as an ophthalmologist in July 2023, having worked in eye care for 21 years. Now, he travels across sites in Preston, Blackpool and Accrington performing cataract surgery on community patients. 

Working in partnership with NHS England, CHEC gives local residents increased choice and improved access to ophthalmology services in the community. 

Dr Moemen said of the milestone: “It’s been a brilliant first seven months with CHEC and to have conducted more than 1,000 surgeries in such a short space of time shows the demand there is for a service like ours. My aim is to do anything I can to ensure CHEC continues meeting the target of treating cataract patients within four weeks. Lowering waiting times is a priority of mine, as I fully acknowledge the difference that speedy access to such an important procedure can have on a person’s quality of life.”

Taking the title of Dr Moemen’s 1000th patient is Mr Sweetmen, who recently received cataract surgery within three weeks of being referred. He was extremely pleased with the quality of care delivered by Dr Moeman, saying: “I was introduced to Dr Moemen in the pre-op room and although I was apprehensive about the procedure, his calm approach made me feel much more relaxed. He built my confidence further by explaining how the procedure would work, and when the operation was over, I was delighted to have been comfortable and pain-free throughout the experience. 

“My eyesight has improved dramatically since the procedure, both in clarity and in colour, and thanks to Dr Moemen’s care and reassurance, I feel confident about my upcoming, second operation. I have a huge appreciation for Dr Moemen, and congratulate him on reaching such a significant milestone in his career.”

Based in Broughton Business Park, Fulwood, CHEC Preston opened its services to the local community and surrounding areas in 2021. Since then, thousands of patients have chosen CHEC Preston as their community eye hospital of choice. 

Amanda Williams, Chief People Officer for CHEC, said: “Dr Moemen is an example of everything that is special about CHEC. Since joining us last year, he has worked relentlessly to ensure the people of Preston can access cataract surgery quickly, and the feedback from customers about his care and quality of service speaks for itself. Congratulations, Moemen – we look forward to celebrating when you reach 2,000 surgeries!”

Headquartered in Preston, CHEC has more than 20 hospitals UK-wide, with a North West stronghold through its Preston, Blackpool and Accrington hospitals.

Experts on stand to share insights on patient choice and reducing NHS waiting times.

CHEC, one of the largest providers of community-based ophthalmology services in the UK, is welcoming 100% Optical attendees to visit its stand to find out more about patient choice and community healthcare provision. 

On stand B622 will be Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer; Lee Stanley, Head of Service Development; Mahmoud Rabie, Clinical Director and Consultant Ophthalmologist; Karen Dewhurst, Lead Optometrist, and Moeman Elnawawy, Consultant Ophthalmologist. The CHEC team will be engaging with visitors about its growth plans for the next 12 months, the benefits of community eyecare, and its free CPD events taking place across the year to support optometrist upskilling.

In the last 18 months, CHEC has successfully increased its hospital sites from 10 to 21, with the most recent opening in Milton Keynes, Warrington and Ilford earlier this year. Plans are already underway to launch new sites in Leeds, Swindon, Chesterfield and Kings Norton. 

Across its ophthalmology and endoscopy services, CHEC consulted over 298,000 patients in 2023*, helping to reduce NHS waiting times by providing access to specialist care and treatments in the community in an average of under four weeks.

Jose Bailey, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “100% Optical is one of the key dates in our calendar every year, as we’re always keen to engage with industry peers about what we’re collectively doing to improve eye care for patients. 

“This year, having grown our national footprint exponentially, we’ll be promoting the fact our services are being made available to more people across the country and the benefits this has in terms of improving their quality of life and reducing pressure on the NHS. It promises to be another fantastic year for the exhibition, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand.”

CHEC marks one year milestone with community celebration.

Staff and patients at CHEC Basingstoke were celebrating this week after the community-based healthcare provider marked a whole year of working in partnership with the NHS to increase patient choice and reduce waiting times. 

Since first opening its doors in Hampshire International Business Park in January 2023, CHEC Basingstoke has provided ophthalmology services to more than 2,930 patients and completed over 1,245 surgeries. The community hospital has also succeeded in consistently maintaining very low waiting times, with patients currently able to access treatment in two weeks or less. 

“It’s hard to believe it’s only a year ago that we welcomed our first patients to CHEC Basingstoke,” comments Julie Collins, Hospital Manager. “We’d like to thank the local community for choosing CHEC, trusting us to deliver the highest standards of care, and for joining us to celebrate our first anniversary this week!” 

Over the last 12 months, CHEC Basingstoke has pioneered a series of initiatives that make it easier for patients to access its community-based healthcare services. These include a free Home to Hospital™ pick up service and an online patient booking app. 

“Patient choice and reducing waiting times are at the forefront of the NHS agenda. Working in partnership with the NHS, we constantly look for new ways to make it easier for patients to exercise that choice and access the treatment they need,” continues Julie. 

CHEC has established a stronghold for community healthcare provision across Southern England, with hospitals in Watford and Slough. Throughout the UK, CHEC now has more than 20 hospitals. 

Preston-based CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, has made two senior appointments to its expanding team. 

Tim Knockton has joined the firm as Group Chief Financial Officer, while James Wilson has stepped into the role of Chief Technology Officer, both tasked with taking the company forward in its ambitious growth plans. 

Knockton has a breadth of experience across professional services and industry, latterly holding a number of senior finance and board roles in SME businesses. He has a background in fast moving consumer goods, including a senior finance and supply chain management role with KP Snacks. Knockton also spent 10 years working in management consultancy and finance transformation for EY. His most recent role saw him appointed as Finance Director for Arc Inspirations.

Speaking of his new role, Knockton said: “CHEC is accelerating its operations quickly, making it a really exciting time to join the business. My ambition is to build on what is already an amazing foundation, ensuring we can scale proficiently while making a truly positive impact on communities around the country. My experience feeds perfectly into that mission, and we’re already making great headway.”

Meanwhile Wilson, with an entrepreneurial background, launched his own software and consultancy company in the early 2000s. After 14 years of growing the firm and becoming a preferred supplier for software services to companies around the world, he exited the business following its sale. From there, he moved into the corporate world joining Bibby Financial Services where he was Enterprise Architect and progressed to the role of Global Head of Strategy and Innovation.

In 2020, he started a RegTech business (ID4-S.com) which was subsequently acquired when he joined Red Flag A!ert as Chief Technology Officer, where he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of technology including operations, development, research and strategy, where he remained for three years up to his appointment at CHEC. 

Wilson said: “Technology is so intrinsically linked to experience, I want to make sure the services sitting behind CHEC compel our referrers – GPs, optometrists and NHS Trusts – to work with us at every opportunity. My aim is to ensure we’re delivering such a high-quality technological solution that we differentiate ourselves in the market, as a provider of seamless interactions whether that’s appointment booking, clinical assessments, or as part of our after care.

“We also have a number of new clinics to mobilise in the next 12 months, all of which will rely on a frictionless digital journey to ensure they can offer the full breadth of CHEC services to support patients who lean on us for their healthcare needs. CHEC is growing rapidly, and my aim is to ensure technology underpins every part of our future success.”

Imran Rahman, CEO of CHEC, said: “We’ve welcomed Tim and James with open arms. To add two new team members with such high calibre experience and vast knowledge in their specialisms is a big moment for us, and will help us achieve our ambitions both in the short and long term. Both are already having a big impact on the organisation, and having them support the C-Suite at a senior level will be a privilege.”

Ilford Ophthalmology and Gastroenterology Hospital opens.

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is ready to welcome its first NHS patients after officially opening the doors at its Ilford site. Centrally based on Ilford Hill, the conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services in the community.

With excellent local transport links, the new state-of-the-art clinical facility is equipped with one ophthalmology theatre and one endoscopy suite. Now accepting ophthalmology referrals, the Ilford hospital is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times by treating patients within four weeks. 

“Patient choice, exceptional care and equity of access are central to CHEC’s operations and ethos, which is why we’re proud to collaborate with NHS partners nationwide, helping to keep waiting times to a minimum while delivering the very best quality of care,” explains Samea Ahsan Hospital Manager at CHEC Ilford. 

As an accredited provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for ophthalmology, CHEC hosted its first open evening in January, where local optometrists were welcomed to a CPD event on Cataract in Diabetics.  

“For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services in the community. We’re excited to become part of the Ilford community and look forward to welcoming our first patients in the coming weeks”. 

“In the meantime, we’d welcome any residents to get in touch and learn more about how we work with the NHS to make much-needed treatments more readily accessible,” concludes Jose Bailey, Commercial Director.

To learn more about accessing the services CHEC provides at its Ilford site, please contact us on engagement@chec.uk.

CHEC’s new site set to reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice.

CHEC, one of the UK’s leading providers of community healthcare, is ready to welcome its first NHS patients after officially opening the doors at its Pitfield Lane site in Milton Keynes. The conveniently located facility will help reduce NHS waiting times and increase patient choice by providing access to ophthalmology and gastroenterology services in the community.

With ample free parking and excellent transport links, the new state-of-the-art clinical facility is equipped with one ophthalmology theatre and one endoscopy suite. Now accepting ophthalmology referrals, the Milton Keynes hospital is supporting the NHS to reduce waiting times by treating patients within four weeks. 

“Patient choice, exceptional care and equity of access are central to CHEC’s operations and ethos, which is why we’re proud to collaborate with NHS partners nationwide,” explains Jose Bailey, Commercial Director at CHEC. 

“For well over a decade, we’ve been trusted by the NHS to deliver healthcare services in the community. We’re excited to become part of the Milton Keynes community and would welcome local GPs and optometrists to get in touch to learn more about how we can work in partnership to make much-needed treatments more readily accessible,” concludes Jose.To learn more about the services CHEC provides at its Milton Keynes site, please contact us on engagement@chec.uk.