HEALTH bosses have been forced to cancel a conference aimed at increasing employers' awareness of diabetes because of a lack of interest.

Only five people signed up for a seminar planned for Thursday - and two were from Bolton and Bury Chamber of Commerce.

Jane Pennington, Diabetes Services Manager at Bolton Diabetes Centre, said staff were "very disappointed" by the lack of interest.

"We simply could not justify five senior medical people giving up their time to speak to such a small number of people," she said.

"We have now decided to work on producing a booklet highlighting the issues which employers ought to be aware of when there are diabetics in the work place.

"These booklets will be available in about four weeks time and any employer who wants to speak to us about diabetes should contact us on Bolton 522814."

A spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce said they shared the organisers' disappointment but pointed out that many senior business people had many commitments on their time.

It was intended that the free seminar would be held in the Diabetes Centre on Chorley Street, when senior consultant John Dean and his staff would talk to employers about the issues surrounding diabetes and employment.

Around 6,000 people in Bolton are known to have diabetes and an estimated 3,000 more may have it and not be aware of the fact.

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