STAFF from a Nigerian hospital flew over to the UK as part of an ongoing partnership with the Royal Bolton — and popped into our offices for a chat.

Consultant ophthalmologist Dr Adeola Onakoya and director of finance Tajudeen Ibrahim, from the Guinness eye centre in Lagos, spent a week in Bolton to learn about facilities, equipment and techniques.

A team from RBH's eye unit, led by ophthalmic surgeon Clare Inkster, have been working alongside doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital since 2012.

The project is part of the national Vision 2020 links programme — the first in the country to include trainee doctors as well as consultants.

Mrs Inkster said: "The hospital has had a link with the Guinness eye centre for about four years now. It has been very successful and I am delighted that Dr Onakoya and Mr Ibrahim were able to visit us here in Bolton.

"We have been going back and forward doing clinical training since we began the partnership and in that time they have been very active and have set up a dedicated eye service at the eye centre."

The Royal Bolton Hospital is hoping to assist the Guinness eye centre by helping to find funding for new equipment through sponsorships and grants.

Mrs Inkster said: "The idea of the visit is to see what we can do for them. The biggest problem that they face is that the infrastructure is no longer fit for purpose. The building is 30 years old but never had things like adequate plumbing in the school so there are not enough sinks, for example, which is important for a hospital.

"It is a federally funded hospital and staff salaries are paid for by the government, and the patients have to pay for their treatment — anything from eye drops to surgery. The centre does not have a laser machine, which it needs, and this is why we want to help them find the money for this important equipment."