Screening plan could ‘save sight’ of diabetics
PLANS are being implemented to increase diabetic eye screening tests in Leek and Biddulph.
Clinics are being held once a week at Leek Moorlands Hospital. In addition one clinic a week is held in Biddulph
People who require a weekend appointment can attend a clinic on Saturday morning at Newcastle.
An information briefing sheet on the proposals was presented to members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s health overview and scrutiny panel last week by Howard King, managing director of specialist services, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
In his briefing Mr King said: “Eye screening is a key part of diabetes care. People with diabetes are at risk of damage from diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss if it’s not treated.
“Screening is a way of detecting the condition early before a person notices any changes to their vision. Diabetic retinopathy doesn’t usually cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Everyone with diabetes requires eye screening at least once a year.
“The local programme has had an uptake that is consistently lower than the national average, in large part due to the inherent problems of the optometry model of delivery.
“Feedback from patients is that they are reluctant to visit opticians for the fear of having to purchase new glasses. This is clearly a barrier to attendance for patients on lower incomes.
“Opticians only offer a few diabetic eye screening appointments per week at certain specified times and some practices insist that these are linked to an eye examination.
“The times and dates for these screening appointments can change from week to week.
“To address some of these issues our service has been evolving by using employed and qualified NHS staff alongside high street opticians. During 2017/2018 almost half of all patients were screened by NHS qualified staff, who specialise in diabetic eye screening and grading.
“We have successfully screened many patients who previously have not engaged with opticians on the high street and saved sight as a consequence.
“Based on the evidence from elsewhere and patient feedback, it was agreed that diabetic eye screening would take place in dedicated NHS screening clinics.
“This will enable us to actively target patients and areas of greatest need. From April 1, the service began a phased introduction. By January 1, 2019 all screening will be delivered by qualified NHS screeners across Staffordshire.
“Patients are able to book into any NHS clinic and we will be continually assessing uptake and capacity rates and will react with further clinics in the area if required to meet demand.”
Health panel member, Councillor Linda Malyon, said that the illness can be hereditary and not always about lifestyle.
She said: “My husband has type 2. It is hereditary. We go to the screening clinics. This is a very important service. Usually you can diet, but you can’t stop the hereditary. I would like to thank the team for what they are doing.”
Mr King said that they would increase the capacity of the clinics if there was a problem.
Councillor Charlotte Atkins asked if people attending the clinics could be given healthier lifestyle advice, which Mr King said was part of the plans by the end of the year.