A NEW Taunton-based eye hospital, SpaMedica, is offering accelerated four to eight week cataract treatment.

The clinic provides cataract surgery and YAG laser capsulotomy for NHS patients in just four to eight weeks, compared to a national target of 18 weeks.

Established in 2008, SpaMedica is one of the UK’s leading providers of NHS eye services, with more than 55 hospitals across the country.

The new hospital, which has already created several jobs for the local community, will help to meet rising demand for NHS eye patient services.

More than 8,000 people in Somerset are thought to be living with cataracts, and that figure is estimated to increase by nearly one third by 2032.

Hospital manager Samantha Christiansen said: “We are committed to improving our patients’ quality of life and helping them to get back their independence after treatment.”

To find out more, visit www.spamedica.co.uk