East Lancashire Freemasons Make £50,000 Donation to Support Diabetes Care

The East Lancashire Freemasons have made a £50,000 donation to help make a difference to diabetes patients from across the North West of England. The donation in support of Manchester Royal Infirmary Charity’s Diabetes Appeal will help the hospital to relocate its Diabetes Centre into a more vibrant and spacious patient-friendly building and continue to be a leading centre for Diabetes care.

The Manchester Diabetes Centre is recognised around the world for its high-quality clinical care and cutting-edge, world leading research. It is one of the first dedicated diabetes centres in the UK, providing high quality care to 4,000 patients across the North West, each year.

The current Diabetes Centre, located on Hathersage road, is cramped and outdated meaning the hospital’s medical professionals are unable to offer the breadth of treatment, research and care that they want to be able to offer their patients.

The substantial donation from the Freemasons will contribute towards the Charity’s Appeal to vastly improve the patients experience when being treated at the new Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre. Relocating to a larger facility will mean an increase of clinical capacity, reduction of waiting times and the ability to adapt the care to the diverse needs and lives of the hospital’s diabetic patients. This friendlier, less clinical environment, will also improve the quality of transition of care for young patients from child through to adult services.

Maurice Watkins CBE, Chairman of Manchester Royal Infirmary Hospital Charity’s fundraising board said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the East Lancashire Freemasons. Our aim is to ensure that the Manchester Diabetes Centre continues to be a world-class facility, pioneering treatment and care for chronically ill patients in the North West and beyond. The Freemason’s support is invaluable in helping us to provide a brighter future for these patients and their families.”

The Appeal also plans to relocate the hospital’s Endocrinology Services to the new and purposely designed Diabetes facility. Currently, despite the close clinical connection of the two specialities, the hospital’s Endocrinology and Diabetes services are located in different areas of the hospital site. Housing the two linked services in one central location will ensure optimal patient care, clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Sir David Trippier, the Provincial Grand Master for East Lancashire Freemasons, said:

“Freemasons are delighted to have provided vital financial support for the most worthy cause of Diabetes Care in the North West. Diabetes is an illness that has serious implications so we are keen to support this project which will ultimately benefit an immense number of people, from children to the elderly, for now and well into the future.”

Manchester Royal Infirmary Hospital Charity is raising money to ensure continued excellence in treatment, care and research at the hospital – improving the lives of thousands of patients each year across the North West and beyond.