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ASDA employee hailed a ‘hero’ after helping to save an elderly shopper’s sight

Ophthalmologist Michael Stokes immediately referred the shopper for further examination after picking up warning signs.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st March 2021
ASDA Eastlands

A local ASDA employee has been hailed a “hero” in a viral post after helping to save the sight of an elderly shopper following a routine eye test.

Michael Stokes – who has worked as an Ophthalmologist the ASDA Eastlands superstore for 18 years – has received a Customer Service Award after immediately referring 75-year-old Eileen Mansell for further examination after he picked up warning signs that he wasn’t happy about when she attended a routine eye appointment.

Michael referred Eileen to Arrowsmiths Opticians in Manchester for a second opinion.

A scan later revealed that a blockage to a cataract in her right eye had caused the pressure to build up to a potentially serious level, and Eileen was then sent to the Royal Eye Hospital, where she underwent an emergency operation.

Explaining the sight-saving situation, Michael said: “I saw her for a routine eye test as there was a history of glaucoma in the family.

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“She didn’t have have classic symptoms or pain or anything and wasn’t complaining of any issues, but I noticed a few things that had started to change since her last eye test. The pressure in one eye had gone up quite a lot and this made me want to delve into it a bit deeper.

“I really thought this needed to be looked into further.

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“Eileen came in afterwards to see me and said the hospital had told her that if it had been left any longer then she could have lost her sight.”

https://www.facebook.com/Asda/posts/5125167657554597

Chadderton resident and great-grandmother Eileen – who has been one of Michael’s customers for the past eight years – said: “I’m so grateful to Michael.

“I really can’t thank him enough [and] he is such a treasure for ASDA to have.

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“I just went in for a routine eye test as I had no symptoms at all [but] thankfully, Michael spotted what he did otherwise I could have lost the sight in my eye – and having your sight is such a precious thing.”

A post sharing Michael’s success on ASDA’s official social media platforms this past weekend has since seen him go viral after it amassed over 13K interactions, shares and positive comments from members of the East Manchester community and beyond.

Lisa Casey – Customer Trading Manager at ASDA Eastlands, who nominated Michael for the Customer Service Award – said: “Afterwards, Eileen came in and she was so over the moon. She was just so happy with the service from Michael [and] through his due diligence, he potentially saved her from losing her sight.

“We are all dead proud of Michael.

“He is a really nice, approachable, friendly guy, and a valued member of the team.”

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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new study has revealed the cities which are deemed to be the most ‘caring’ in the UK, and Manchester features proudly on the list.

Because of course it does.

In case you missed it, last week, our city was awarded the not-so-coveted title of the UK’s rudest city, which, it’s fair to say, definitely got Mancs talking, and had a lot of people in denial too, as they just couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around the bold claims.

But now, we’ve got a new title that brushes those claims of rudeness right under the carpet… and that’s because Manchester has also been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK.

Now, that sounds more like the Manchester we know and love, right?

From donating blood, to volunteering for charity and helping out with neighbourhood tasks, there’s so many ways to lend a hand and support your local community – but which UK cities are the best at this? Ultimately, which UK cities are the most caring? Well, in a bid to answer this question, the life insurance team over at Compare the Market has analysed 30 of the country’s most populated cities to determine which of them are the most ‘community-minded’.

Manchester has been named one of the most ‘caring’ cities in the UK / Credit: iStockPhoto

The research study has taken into account a wide range of factors – with everything from recycling habits, the amount of fly-tipping incidents, and crime levels, to the number of charities, blood drives, and community centres in each city considered.

Manchester has found itself firmly within the top five, claiming the third spot on the list, largely thanks to having the highest number of charities per 10,000 people of any location in the whole study (52), which equates to an impressive 2,063 in total – with 31 of these dedicated to animals.

Top 10 most ‘caring’ cities in the UK

  1. Leeds
  2. Bradford
  3. Manchester
  4. Milton Keynes
  5. Wolverhampton
  6. Reading
  7. Bristol
  8. Hull
  9. Cardiff
  10. Coventry

There’s also plenty of opportunities to give blood here in Manchester too, with nine blood donation centres dotted around the city, as well as 51 community centres for anyone looking for a supportive space, or for somewhere that might offer activities or volunteer projects to get involved with.

The North features heavily within the top 10, with the Yorkshire cities Bradford and Hull also finding themselves on the list, and the title of the UK’s most ‘caring’ city also being awarded to the ever-popular Yorkshire city of Leeds.

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What do we think to this then? Rudest city what? After all, we know us Mancs are a caring bunch… but it’s always nice to have a study prove it.

Keep being ace, Manchester.

Featured Image – Matthew Waring (via Unsplash)

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Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

The grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest is to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester next month.

Following the success of the first-ever live streams of Europe’s biggest party onto the big screen when it was held on British soil in Liverpool last year, cinemas up and down the UK are set to come together once again to celebrate 2024’s edition of the major night in the music calendar by hosting the ultimate viewing events.

The epic Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final on Saturday 11 May will be broadcast live on BBC One, and streamed into more than 100 cinemas nationwide – including several in Greater Manchester.

Hosted by CinemaLive, the live stream events will allow Eurovision fans to gather under one roof and be “united by music” to share in the unbeatable experience of celebrating the brightest and boldest music party of the year on the big screen.

Eurovision 2024 final to be screened live in cinemas across Greater Manchester / Credit: Cinema Live | Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)

You may remember that Sweden is hosting Eurovision this year, following the Scandinavian country’s well-deserved victory at the 2023 contest with the song ‘Tattoo’ performed by Loreen.

But thanks to these live stream events, you won’t need to make the trip to Malmö to get in on the action, as you’ll just need to nip down to your nearest participating cinema instead.

Not only will the long-awaited final of the show be streamed live onto the big screen in 5.1 surround sound, but fans are invited to bring their Eurovision parties from the front room to the cinema instead, as organisers say fancy dress is “heavily encouraged” as are enthusiastic sing-alongs too.

Speaking ahead of the event next month, John Travers from distributors CinemaLive, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BBC to bring Eurovision’s grand final live into cinemas across the UK for the second year in a row.

“We want audiences to enjoy themselves, so come along in groups, get your fancy dress on, and join together to enjoy this incredible occasion on the big screen”.

Tickets are now live and available to book at your local cinema here.

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Some of the participating Greater Manchester cinemas include Vue Manchester Printworks, Everymans in Manchester city centre and Altrincham, The Light in Stockport, and Cineworld in Didsbury, among others.

Featured Image – Nick Robinson (via BBC)

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