A true community: St. Ann’s at Moorfields
27th April, 2026
Moorfields operates out of 20 different centres, and each and every one of these is unique. Friends are present at 10 sites, but we’re always looking to expand our operations to better support staff and patients. This March we took a peek behind the scenes at St. Ann’s, during a World Glaucoma Week awareness event.
What makes St. Ann’s special? When you walk through the doors, it instantly feels like a community; it’s a welcoming environment with lovely and approachable staff, and personal touches such as artwork by a patient in the hallway.
St. Ann’s is proof of how kindness and excellence shape patient experience. A survey conducted in October and December 2025 found 96% of patients would recommend St. Ann’s to anyone who needs similar care, and 100% would recommend the centre for surgery.
Patients at St. Ann’s can get cataract, glaucoma and medical retina treatments, including surgery. Despite being a smaller site, it’s very busy; the team see about 200 patients a day on average.
Everyone goes out of their way to put patients at ease and guide them to and from their seat. But there isn’t always enough time for those who need more. When we asked staff what could make the St. Ann’s experience even better, they all agreed: regular volunteers!
“Volunteers are key in improving the patient flow, but also in building community: a chat whilst you’re waiting can make all the difference.”
The sense of community is something close to heart for the staff at St. Ann’s. When their colleague Gino suddenly passed away in 2024, the team led an initiative to plant a community garden to remember him. Friends funded a memorial bench and some additional tables to help create an outdoor space to support the staff’s wellbeing.
Wellbeing goes beyond the here and now. As much as our volunteers support staff, volunteering itself can also be a form of support, meeting new people and building community. We spoke to a colleague at St. Ann’s, who was keen to give back to the trust to develop new skills.
“I was a technician for 3 years and then moved into an admin role. But I like learning and getting skilled in different areas. Volunteering offers that opportunity.”
We’re excited to keep providing opportunities to connect patients, staff and the general public at St. Ann’s and through Moorfields in general! Do you want to support this wonderful site as a volunteer or are you a staff member wanting to volunteer? Get in touch with our office or email moorfields.friends@nhs.net.