Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis visits SpaMedica Southampton

Eastleigh MP Liz Jarvis visits SpaMedica Southampton to see how local eye care is helping NHS patients

MP for Eastleigh visited SpaMedica Southampton to discuss how independent sector capacity is supporting NHS ophthalmology services across the country.

SpaMedica says it’s one of the UK’s largest independent providers of NHS-funded ophthalmology care, specialising in cataract surgery and YAG laser capsulotomy, delivering sector-leading outcomes for NHS patients. SpaMedica Southampton also provides NHS glaucoma care, with appointments typically available within five weeks.

SpaMedica plays a vital role in delivering community health services and improving local access to innovative NHS eyecare, and its unique consultant-led approach has achieved best in class patient satisfaction scores as well as valuable financial savings for the local NHS.

Jarvis toured the hospital’s clinical facilities and met frontline staff delivering care to local residents and patients, learning how streamlined pathways and community-based services enable more NHS patients to be treated quickly and safely, while reducing pressure on acute local hospitals.

She also heard how access to NHS eye care is changing nationally with significant recent increases in waiting lists – even in locations like Southampton where spare clinical capacity is available and ready to use, and can drive down waiting lists and add resilience to the local NHS. The team discussed the importance of NHS patients being able to make full use of high quality, available care in the community.

Supporting NHS waiting list recovery in Southampton

SpaMedica Southampton treated 3,242 patients in 2025. The state-of-the-art hospital employs a dedicated local team, contributing to local employment and community health infrastructure.

Liz Jarvis MP for Eastleigh:

“It was a pleasure to visit SpaMedica Southampton and meet their excellent clinical team delivering vital eye care to local NHS patients across Eastleigh and the wider area. Cataract surgery can transform people’s independence and quality of life, and it’s essential that patients can choose where they’re treated and get that care as quickly as possible, close to home.”

Tom Fellows, Head of Policy at SpaMedica, said:

“We’re grateful to Liz Jarvis for taking the time to meet our Southampton team, and learn about the work we doing to support the people and NHS patients in our local community. As a proud partner to the NHS, we have the capacity to help even more local patients with cataract, AMD and glaucoma care, and we want to work with local partners to make sure that capacity is used for patients who need it.”

Clive Shepherd-Wraight, Hospital Manager at SpaMedica Southampton, added:

“For more than five years, our local SpaMedica team has been dedicated to delivering safe, efficient and compassionate care to NHS patients across Eastleigh, Southampton and the surrounding area. We remain committed to working with local partners to ensure NHS patients can access timely, high-quality treatment close to home.”