Spotlight on… our Oriel volunteers
27th April, 2026
Work on Moorfields and UCL Centre for Eye Health (Oriel) in St Pancras, Camden, is progressing well and the centre will welcome its first patients in summer 2027.
All services at Moorfields Eye Hospital City Road, the children’s services and Moorfields Private on Bath Street, will move to the new centre.
Our volunteers are supporting the Oriel programme team to help transition our staff, students, and patients to the new site. They will be out and about in clinics at City Road, sharing key information with patients. This will include information about how to get to the new site and what facilities will be available.
The team will also encourage patients to take part in other engagement activities, including wayfinding, and digital services. We’re keen to hear feedback from as many patients as possible to help us create a centre that is accessible for all.
Our Oriel volunteers are vital to the relocation, and will continue to provide support once we’ve moved in. We asked a few of you to share your thoughts about the move and role of volunteers.
What made you want to become an Oriel volunteer?
Kiran: “I’ve been volunteering with Friends for five years and have a background in project engineering. I was part of another large move, so I got really excited when I heard about Oriel.”
Ian: “I have an eye condition myself and understand how important it is for the first experience with an unfamiliar place to be a positive one. Volunteers are key to creating that positive environment and that is great to be involved in.”
What are Oriel volunteers working on right now and how does it help patients?
Kiran: “We want everything to go as smoothly as possible, so we need to make patients aware of the move and collect their feedback at these early stages. It will make everyone’s life easier once we move.”
Ian: “There is something extraordinary about Moorfields, because volunteers get involved across the patient experience. It’s a complex transition, and having trained volunteers in place will help communicate updates clearly.”
What excites you most about volunteering at the new centre?
Kiran: “A new environment will present challenges and it’s a joint responsibility – Moorfields, UCL, the charities and all others involved – to make sure we leave a good first impression. But we are ready for it!”
Ian: “Whether you’re staff, a patient or volunteer, there is an emotional attachment to this hospital. We get to be part of preserving the spirit of Moorfields, but also in taking things forward. There are so many opportunities!”
If you would like to find out more about the new centre, visit the Oriel page on the Moorfields website or email moorfields.oriel@nhs.net to sign up to the Oriel newsletter.
If you are a volunteer and would like to get involved as an Oriel volunteer, get in touch with Liam Bays, Oriel Project Delivery Manager (liam.bays@nhs.net).