Terry Waite CBE to Open West Suffolk Hospital's New Diabetes Centre

Date:        Tuesday, March 8, 2005
Time:        12.30pm
Venue:       New Diabetes Centre, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds

Terry Waite CBE will open West Suffolk Hospital¹s new diabetes centre on Tuesday (Mar 8).

The centre, which has been almost entirely funded by donations from grateful patients and research money generated by diabetic patients taking part in trials, has been established in the hospital’s former eye clinic. It joins together all the services that diabetic patients use in the hospital, to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’.

Consultant Diabetologist Dr John Clark said "There have been many advances in diabetes in the last few years and this centre will help us to ensure our patients are receiving the best treatment.

"It will include state of the art digital diabetic eye photographs plus access to our own worldwide diabetes website. The centre will be used to house all the hospital diabetes clinics including those for new patients, pregnant diabetics, adolescents with diabetes and, diabetics with foot problems.

"In addition, within the centre we will be able to do more educational work with patients and staff. Patients with diabetes manage their own condition with help and support from the team here."

The former eye clinic has been completely refurbished to create a suite of six new consulting rooms. There is also an education room, a room for blood testing, podiatry rooms, eye screening and consultation rooms for the nurses. The centre will be running drop in clinics in which patients can turn up at certain times in between appointments to see a diabetes specialist nurse to discuss any concerns or developments in their condition.

Terry Waite, will unveil a plaque commemorating the opening of the centre at 12.30pm on Tuesday (Mar 8).

Liz Hartley, Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: "It’s very exciting to have some good facilities for patients. It’s going to allow us to offer a wider range of services, within a better environment.