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Macular centre opens in Trafford
The centre is part of the services provided by Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
2 min read
08 November 2019
A new macular treatment centre opened on Monday (4 November) as part of a refurbishment at Trafford General Hospital, joining the portfolio of services provided by Manchester Royal Eye Hospital (MREH).
The specialist centre replaces the mobile macular unit that had been at Trafford General Hospital since October 2015, providing follow-up and treatment services to patients living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Chief executive of MREH, John Ashcroft, said: “The centre offers a one-stop service for the treatment of macular diseases, which is more accessible to our patients. The demand for AMD treatment is increasing and expanding our services has proved invaluable for our patients. Our community eye clinics still remain amongst the first in the country to offer this level of treatment, in the heart of the community.”
The ophthalmology team at Trafford Macular Treatment Centre is led by consultant ophthalmologist and clinical lead for the medical retina team, Sajjad Mahmood, and consultant ophthalmologist, Romi Chhabra.
The centre has opened following a four-month joint venture with pharmaceutical company Novartis, which said it was “delighted” to partner with MREH and the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaking about the opening, director of market access at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Fiona Bride, said: “This is an important step to ensure patients with wet AMD from across Greater Manchester have access to timely treatment and care.”
Novartis added that it is committed to “reimagining the treatment and prevention of visual impairment and blindness” and will continue to invest in partnerships that ensure patient access to screening, diagnosis and treatment.
One of the first patients to use the new services was 80-year-old Valerie Wrigley, who initially received treatment at MREH in central Manchester before starting treatment in 2016 at the mobile unit in Trafford.
“I find the service much easier to access and much more convenient. I have to come in quite frequently – every six weeks – and before moving my appointments to Trafford, it would take up my entire day with travel, but here, I am in and out and the staff are lovely,” Ms Wrigley shared.
Pictured is Ms Wrigley with optometrist Gemma Gould.
The specialist centre replaces the mobile macular unit that had been at Trafford General Hospital since October 2015, providing follow-up and treatment services to patients living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Chief executive of MREH, John Ashcroft, said: “The centre offers a one-stop service for the treatment of macular diseases, which is more accessible to our patients. The demand for AMD treatment is increasing and expanding our services has proved invaluable for our patients. Our community eye clinics still remain amongst the first in the country to offer this level of treatment, in the heart of the community.”
The ophthalmology team at Trafford Macular Treatment Centre is led by consultant ophthalmologist and clinical lead for the medical retina team, Sajjad Mahmood, and consultant ophthalmologist, Romi Chhabra.
The centre has opened following a four-month joint venture with pharmaceutical company Novartis, which said it was “delighted” to partner with MREH and the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust.
Speaking about the opening, director of market access at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Fiona Bride, said: “This is an important step to ensure patients with wet AMD from across Greater Manchester have access to timely treatment and care.”
Novartis added that it is committed to “reimagining the treatment and prevention of visual impairment and blindness” and will continue to invest in partnerships that ensure patient access to screening, diagnosis and treatment.
One of the first patients to use the new services was 80-year-old Valerie Wrigley, who initially received treatment at MREH in central Manchester before starting treatment in 2016 at the mobile unit in Trafford.
“I find the service much easier to access and much more convenient. I have to come in quite frequently – every six weeks – and before moving my appointments to Trafford, it would take up my entire day with travel, but here, I am in and out and the staff are lovely,” Ms Wrigley shared.
Pictured is Ms Wrigley with optometrist Gemma Gould.
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