East Yorkshire coast sight loss groups join together to support local communities

Three telephone support groups, all run by volunteers, have joined forces to help people affected by sight loss and urge anyone who needs assistance to get in contact.
People affected by sight loss are being urged to contact the East Yorkshire Coast Macular Society telephone support group. Photo submitted.People affected by sight loss are being urged to contact the East Yorkshire Coast Macular Society telephone support group. Photo submitted.
People affected by sight loss are being urged to contact the East Yorkshire Coast Macular Society telephone support group. Photo submitted.

The three former groups, Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough, have combined into one to become the East Yorkshire Coast Macular Society telephone support group.

The group calls take place every fortnight on a Tuesday and the sessions are open to patients with any form of macular disease, along with their family or friends.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The group is one of over 400 in the UK run by sight loss charity, the Macular Society.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss, currently affecting around 1.5 million British people. Since the pandemic first hit last year, the society introduced a range of telephone and online support services for anyone affected by sight loss.

Jo Reader, Macular Society regional manager, said: “As the pandemic continues to have an impact, the health and wellbeing of everyone remains our priority.

“However, it’s absolutely vital that everyone who needs our support continues to receive it.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Although our face-to-face services were suspended last year, we are still on the end of the phone and would strongly urge anyone to call us if they do need our help.

“This group, like all the others we run across the UK, is here for anybody affected by sight loss and we want to encourage as many people as possible to call in to our meetings. Friends and family are also very welcome too.

“Our telephone support groups enable people to better understand macular disease and help them come to terms with sight loss; exactly the way our face-to-face support groups used to do.”

Email [email protected] or call 07376 398916 if you would like to join the group call or need more information about additional support services available locally.