PEOPLE living with diabetes and their families are invited to make their voices heard on the care they receive at a special event in Worcester next week.

The public engagement event run by Diabetes UK and the NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group will be held at the Guildhall from 6pm on Wednesday, March 5.

Representatives from the two organisations will be on hand to hear views and suggestions from patients and demonstrate the latest equipment.

Chief clinical officer for the CCG Dr Carl Ellson said: "We’re committed to making improvements to the way that we treat people with long term conditions such as diabetes.

"In order to do this it’s really important that we better understand the difficulties these patients face and work with them to find better ways of supporting them to help manage their condition.”

More than 15,000 people in South Worcestershire are suffering with diabetes and it is estimated that a further 2,500 live with the disease without realising it.

Diabetes UK's NHS influencing officer for the Midlands Katy Cook said she hoped as many people as possible would attend the event.

"We know how important it is to ensure that people with diabetes get the best possible care and part of that is making sure people know what treatment and checks they are entitled to," she said.

"At the moment too few people in South Worcestershire are receiving their eight annual checks.

"These are essential to avoid devastating complications such as amputation, blindness and kidney failure."

There are about 3.8 million people in the UK with diabetes and it is estimated this could be as high at five million by 2025.

The disease is the leading cause of blindness for working-age people in the UK and is a major cause of strokes, lower limb amputation and kidney failure.

For more information or to book a place at the event call 01922 614500.