NHS teams up with Bayer for high street services

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Bayer have opened two community-based services in Manchester to ease the burden on the hospital sector for follow up appointments among people with retinal conditions.

The Cheetham Hill service, which was opened last week by Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, will cover patients in a 30-mile radius and serve the 3,000 patients in the Manchester area requiring review and assessment for treatment of sight-threatening macular disease. A second service in Wythenshawe will serve the south of the city.

Dr Sajjad Mahmood, consultant ophthalmologist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, said the growing demand for eye care services was negatively impacting the ability to offer timely follow-up appointments.