Retinal screening access - Closed

Diabetic Retinopathy affects the blood vessels of the retina. It is the largest cause of blindness in people of working age in the UK.

Vision threatening retinopathy is rare in people with Type 1 diabetes between three and five years after diagnosis. But during the next two decades, nearly all people with Type 1 diabetes will develop some form of retinopathy. Also, up to 21% of people with Type 2 diabetes are already showing signs of retinopathy upon diagnosis, and most develop some degree of retinopathy over time.

Why is annual eye screening important? You can’t tell if your eyes have been damaged by diabetes, but if problems are identified, effective treatment can be administered in up to 90 per cent of cases.

In April 2003 Strategic Health Authorities (SHA’s) were given £27million over 3 years for digital cameras and related software. The Purchasing and Supplies Agency of the NHS negotiated discounts with manufacturers so that the more cameras you buy – the lower the price. If SHA’s buy cameras in ‘bulk’ and issue them to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) rather than giving money for individual purchasing, this is a monetary saving.

Availability of screening appointments outside normal working hours could prove helpful in minimising the number of patients who fail to attend screening. Also, screening by optometrists, especially those located in large shopping complexes, could help screening services as they stay open later.

Michael Gibbons
Patient Representative on the Advisory Panel
National Screening Committee for Diabetic Retinopathy

Here in Conwy there is a screening programme maintained by the local health board. On diagnosis I was asked for permission to be included in the database. I now recieve an invitation each year to be screened and the podiatry service do an assessment at the same appointment - the retinopathy screening is done by a nurse specialist in a mobile clinic, which parks in your local surgery car-park - digital photographs are taken and you get the result a week or so later. The recall system seems to work well - I have been checked annually since diagnosis. I find this an innovative and very convenient service.

In my part of East Sussex I have had the necessary photographs taken on my last two annual eye-checks at my local opticians but it has cost me £10 a time.

I am very glad to see that the NHS is beginning to take the subject of Retinopathy a little more seriously now. The NHS was some 10 years behind other screening centres.
I do however still have to pay to get a regular photo (Annual) as the van that visits my GP's surgery with the camera keeps on breaking down. Perhaps the SHA should get a quote for a job lot of camera, van, etc......? The other advantage of paying is that my Optician discusses the images with me, compares pictures to all previous years and does not try to keep me in the dark. Perhaps some of the more modern staff could learn from this attitude and stop treating me as an idiot.

The two success stories of diabetic care in my part of south London are retinal screening and podiatry.
The hospital automatically sends out an annual appointment for a retinal screening. Highly efficient and confidence-inspiring.

Terry T1
18 Lantus + novorapid