NHS cash crisis puts diabetic retinopathy screening at risk

Government aims to improve eye screening services for diabetic retinopathy are being jeopardised due to the current financial problems of the NHS, it has been claimed this week.

Campaigners for diabetic care believe the financial woes of the Health Service are risking the sight of diabetic people due to ‘short-term thinking’ by some PCTs which are having to focus on managing money difficulties.

Diabetes UK has claimed that 18 PCTs could only offer screening to under 40 per cent of people with diabetes by March this year - well below the government’s target of having 80 per cent of diabetic people being screened by that date.