In September 2024, we began preparing our clinical teams to talk about eye donation with patients who might be suitable. We learned from colleagues at St Wilfrid’s Hospice, listened to patients and families in focus groups, and worked closely with the Eye Bank at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead who kindly provided free training. In September 2025 we were able to start offering this as an option on our In-Patient Unit. Thanks to excellent teamwork and the kindness of one of our patients and their family we were able to achieve our first successful eye donation on 26th January 2026.

HCA Carole Morton, who works on this project told us:

“If you had asked me a year ago if I would like to be an eye donor when I die, I would have said definitely not, why would I!

Now, being part of the eye donation team, I have knowledge and understanding of how eye donation works and more importantly how one eye donor can help restore the sight of multiple people.

I am so proud to have played my part in the team that enabled us to have our first successful donor this year, such an incredible gift and legacy.

If you ask me the same question now, my answer is absolutely! I want to be an eye donor, why wouldn’t I? ”

The amazing donor had chosen to donate his whole body to science, and the team also facilitated this, according to the patient’s wishes.

The eye donation project has been an inspiring experience, hearing the life changing difference corneal grafts can make to recipients, and working together as a team to enable this to happen.