Diabetes and eye screening

August 2006 - Diabetes UK and RNIB ‘Focus on Eyes’ campaign - Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in South Birmingham

Earlier this year, Diabetes UK and the RNIB contacted me regarding their ‘Focus on Eyes’ campaign to highlight the need for comprehensive retinopathy screening for all people with diabetes.  As a result, I wrote to South Birmingham Primary Care Trust about their screening performance.  Rick Roberts, the Chief Executive of the PCT replied stating that they were placing a high priority on promoting the uptake of screening in South Birmingham between December 2005 to date, with a significant improvement.  The latest results submitted in April 2006 show percentage screens have risen from 57.5% to 69% during a period when the number of people with diabletes and eligible for screening has increased by 4.2% in the South Birmingham PCT population.

Mr Roberts explained that the PCT is implementing a digital screening programme which should go live in primary care by October 2006 (and for secondary care this was due to go live in July of this year), to improve the quality of screening for patients.

I would like to encourage all constituents with diabetes to check with their GP about eye screening.