With diabetes being the leading cause of blindness in the United Kingdom, locals are invited to attend a free health seminar at Good Hope Hospital to hear about the importance of diabetic eye screening.

Taking place on 25 February at 5pm, Dr Ateeq Syed, consultant diabetologist at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, will offer information and advice about diabetic eye disease and answer any questions about the country’s largest eye screening programme serving Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.

Dr Syed said: “There are 3.5 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and an estimated 549,000 people are unaware they have the disease. Diabetic eye screening is offered to every patient that has developed diabetes and regular eye screening can detect early diabetic eye changes aiding swift diagnosis and timely treatment.

“The seminar will also highlight the screening process and the risk factors associated with the main two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.

“I would encourage anyone interested in finding out more about diabetic eye screening to attend.”

If you would like to attend the seminar,please contact Sandra White, membership and community engagement manager, on 0121 424 1218 or email: membership@heartofengland.nhs.uk.

The Trust – which covers Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Good Hope Hospital as well as some community based services – runs monthly health seminars to help raise awareness of a range of health conditions, as well as providing information about the treatment and support that is available.