NHS service to improve eye care for diabetics goes on trial

NHS Fife is testing a new service to improve eye care for diabetics.

A clinic providing evening screening for diabetic retinopathy is being trialled at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.

Bosses hope it will make the service more accessible for patients.

Untreated diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of sight loss in people of working age.

However, if the condition is caught early enough it can increase the chance of effective treatment to reduce or prevent damage to vision

People with diabetes are invited to have their eyes screened every year to reduce the risk of developing the condition.

The new evening clinic is being trialled at the Carnegie unit in the Dunfermline hospital, and will run on one Thursday a month until 8pm with last appointments at 7.40pm.

The team behind it hope to reach people who find it difficult to attend screening appointments during the day.

Retinopathy team leader Lynsey Scott said the clinic followed a similar initiative at the Victoria Hospital.

“There is a high level of nonattendance at daytime clinics and this can have a detrimental effect on sight if diabetic retinopathy is not detected early,” she said.

“The evening clinic at the diabetes centre at the Vic has proved very popular and has been warmly welcomed by patients who, for many reasons, often find it more difficult to attend during the day,” she added.

“Our service is always keen to explore new ways to support people with diabetes to access services.”

To register, patients should call 01592 226852.

Patients should contact the appointments team.