One of the first patients to have their Diabetic Retinal Screening carried out at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre has described it as “a wonderful idea.”

Alice Russell, who attended one of the first Diabetic Retinal Screening Clinics at the Healthcare Centre, added: “It’s so convenient to be able to attend the clinic here rather than having to travel to Stirling, especially as I live just along the road in Coalsnaughton and I can’t drive after having my eyes checked. Now I can just get a bus at the bottom of the road which makes much more sense”.

Also attending for her Diabetic Retinal Screening appointment was Jean Samson who also agreed it was a great idea and really handy as she only lives around the corner!

The Diabetic Retinal Screening Clinic, which takes place every Monday, is one of a number of new outpatient clinics now being held at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre in Sauchie as part of wider plans to improve access and deliver more health services closer to home.

Other clinics which have recently been introduced include weekly pre-operative assessments, maternity pre-booking clinics which are held on Tuesday and Friday mornings. These clinics are for patients who have self referred to the Maternity Service from the Clackmannanshire area where they have a history and bloods samples taken. Epilepsy clinics are also held on the first Tuesday of every month.

These new clinics will improve access and reduce travelling time for thousands of local patients and complement the wide range of existing health services provided at Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre where around 30,000 outpatient appointments take place each year.