• Diabetes services in Bolton are moving from the Diabetes Centre to health centres across the town
• The new model will bring specialist care closer to home for many patients
• Services will start to move from the end of this month

After 20 years at its current site, our diabetes service is making a major change to bring care closer to patients. From this month, diabetes services will be delivered from a range of local health centres across the borough, based in areas where we know there is highest demand. The new clinics will be fully established in their new locations by the end of November.

This move is part of a wider effort to improve accessibility and convenience for patients, while maintaining the same high standard of care. It aligns with the NHS 10-Year Plan’s focus on delivering more services closer to people’s homes and supporting joined-up care across neighbourhoods.

Once the services relocate from the Chorley Street base, the new clinic locations will be:

• Avondale Health Centre, BL1 4JP (for patient education only)
• Bolton One, BL3 5BN
• Crompton Health Centre, BL1 8UP
• Farnworth Health Centre, BL4 9AL
• Horwich Health and Wellbeing Hub, BL6 5PY

Most clinics offer free parking (except Bolton One), are easy to access, and are well served by public transport.

Patients will be contacted to let them know which clinic to attend, so there is no need for them to contact the centre. Clinics will be based on the doctor they currently see and the type of diabetes care you need, but once clinics are up and running, patients will have the option to request a change of doctor if it will be a more convenient location for their care.

Dr Rauf Munshi, Associate Medical Director, said:

We’re proud of the care we’ve delivered at the Diabetes Centre over the past two decades. This change means we can continue offering the same great service from the same great team, but in locations that are easier for people to reach.

“We’ve come a long way since we established the service. From being one of the first specialist centres in the country, to working with Diabetes UK to develop the first diabetes community champions network to support Bolton people, and our award winning work delivering diabetes care to Bolton’s homeless population – and we’re confident that our next steps will take this first class service more closely to the people that need it.

The team will still be contactable in the same way, via the support team who will be based at Farnworth Health Centre on 01204 462400.

As with any service move, there may be some minor teething problems as the new bases are established. Please do bear with us as we make this change, and apologies for any disruption.

We would welcome any feedback on how these moves will impact you, via the team on 01204 462400.