Diabetics wait longer for screening results

A Cumbrian diabetic scheme has come under fire because some patients are waiting over four months for their results, despite being told it would take two weeks.

Diabetics formerly had their annual checks at their local optician, but are now being screened at Carlisle’s Central Clinic under new arrangements following national guidelines.

The News & Star reported on a couple who waited six and over four months, describing delays of this nature as ‘simply not acceptable’.

Health bosses were reported as saying the new approach included ‘more thorough checks’, ensuring all patients get the same quality of service.

Local optometrist Martin Golden, of K France Opticians in Carlisle and a member of the LOC, told Optician that the previous scheme had been very effective, but with new screening guidelines it was difficult for practitioners to see the required number of patients in an area with a small population, in spite of increasing numbers of optometrists within Cumbria having suitable retinal cameras.

Golden said the new scheme was inflexible. ‘You have to ask is this a better service for the patient who can’t use their local optometrist and has to wait for longer. People with diabetes weren’t asked. They come to us for eye tests and instead of getting results there and then, they have to make another appointment and wait for long periods.’

A PCT spokesperson commented that as all patients were new, and the photos had to be double-checked during staff training, there was a backlog of photos. But it was usually only those with no problems that were delayed.

Concerns about accessibility when moving from community optometrist-based schemes to camera-based schemes have been raised previously (Optician, February 28, 2003). Many patients prefer to attend at their usual optician and resent having to use an alternative centre under the new plans. This is reflected in lower attendance figures, particularly in more rural communities.