Young Patients

Friends support children and young people at Moorfields in many ways. Our volunteers run an information desk in the Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre (RDCEC), and help with taking patients between clinics or for scans.

Friends paid over £300,000 towards the building of the Ronald McDonald House Moorfields which provides free accommodation to families when a child needs treatment at Moorfields. We continue to support Ronald McDonald House Charities and have representatives on the Moorfields House Board of Governors.

Friends give regular grants to the RDCEC which pay for play specialists to support young patients, both in outpatient clinics and in A&E. We provide toys and other interactive equipment. If children can play for most of their waiting time, their stress levels lessen.

In 2018 Friends provided a Supine YAG laser to provide laser treatments under general anaesthetic for patients who are unable to sit upright and/or be still to safely do this in clinics. This helps young children, adults with impaired cognitive function, patients with limited mobility and patients with involuntary eye movement.