Eye screening scheme to hit DoH targets

A South Yorkshire diabetes eye screening service involving optometrists has been enhanced with practitioners taking a larger role.

Health bosses in Sheffield have launched the new service to stricter targets imposed by the Department of Health's national service framework which require all diabetics to be offered screening by digital photography by the end of next year.

The city has been providing a coordinated screening programme for some years but new goals set by the Government have meant changes to the way people receive their screening were necessary.

However, organisers were keen to develop optometric involvement in the scheme after patients said they valued the convenience of using their practitioner for the screening service. A spokesman for the Sheffield scheme said: 'Collaborative working between the PCTs, Sheffield Teaching
Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust and community optometrists means we are now ahead of schedule in providing this high quality service.'

Additional support for the programme from Sheffield South West PCT means that the city has 20 cameras to provide digital screening to a diabetic population of 18,000.

Optometrist Martin Johnson, who works in the Hillsborough area of Sheffield and is participating in the programme, said: 'The new system means we can screen patients more quickly and efficiently. The picture is emailed to the hospital where a specially trained team grade the images to identify if the patient needs any treatment.'

Consultant ophthalmologist Chris Brand commented: 'If somebody attends for screening regularly, we will have images of their retina over a number of years enabling us to monitor any changes in its condition. It will really help in diagnosing retinopathy in its earliest stages.'