PLANS to relocate services for people living in St Austell with macular degeneration has been reversed.

The proposed closure of St Austell Healthcare's Macular Clinic in Wheal Northey caused a lot of concern and frustration for its patients, who would of had to make the journey to Truro’s Royal Cornwall Hospital for treatment.

The clinic provides vital treatment for people with serious eye conditions, including macular degeneration which is often treated through injections directly to the eyes. Due to the feedback it received from the public, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has decided not to close the clinic after all.

In a letter, Steve Williamson CEO of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “After reviewing our plans to bring some subcontracted services from primary care and other providers to within Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) and listening to valuable patient feedback, we have decided not to go ahead with these changes.

“While the change could have delivered care at a lower cost, the services currently provided by local providers under subcontract to RCHT will continue as they are —in the same locations, delivered by the same teams.

Noah Law, MP for St Austell and Newquay, has supported a number of constituents with concerns about the closure of the macular unit in St Austell.

He said: "It's not acceptable that my constituents, many of whom are visually impaired, would have to make such a long journey to use the service when it was being provided perfectly well here in St Austell."

Mr Law, who has contacted the integrated care board (ICB) on hearing the initial news of the planned changes, added: "I'd like to thank RCHT for showing common sense in continuing its macular service at Wheal Northey Surgery in St Austell and, of course, all the staff at both Treliske and Wheal Northey for the vital work they do."