THE eye clinic at Worcestershire Royal Hospital has been nominated for a national award after receiving outstanding praise from its patients.

Consultant Jagdeep Singh Gandhi and his eye clinic team are in the running for the clinical service of the year title as part of the Macular Society’s annual Awards for Excellence.

The nomination recognises the clinic’s exceptional practice in caring for people with macular degeneration, which in its advanced stages can cause an almost total loss of vision.

Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of sight loss in the UK and more people are now affected than ever before due to our increasingly ageing population.

The Macular Society is the largest patient group for sight loss with more than 15,500 members and its awards seek to recognise teams that provide exceptionally good practice for sufferers under their care.

Mr Gandhi, consultant ophthalmic surgeon for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said everyone in his team is “delighted” to be nominated for a second year running.

He said: “Everyone has worked with great courage in a health system which has seen large increases of demand with the passing of each year.

“I particularly wish to emphasise the efforts of our nurses and administrators who are often the unsung heroes on these occasions. I accept this nomination on behalf of everyone who contributes to the success of the ophthalmic care in Worcestershire.”

Marjorie Stapleton, a patient who nominated the team, said: “Our eye department is absolutely superb. They are so dedicated and precise in everything they do. I would describe them as efficient, kind and patient. Mr Gandhi gives every patient his complete attention, very skilfully breaking down the complex retinal matters into language they can understand.”

Helen Jackman, chief executive of the Macular Society, said: “Jagdeep Gandhi and the eye clinic team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital do an incredible job. We are delighted that they have been recognised for their excellent work.”

The nomination will now be handed to the judges, who will announce the overall winner at the society’s annual conference in London on September 28.