NHS diabetic eye screening programme
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In England, the NHS diabetic eye screening programme service specification no 22 is commissioned by NHS England;95 in Wales it is the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service for Wales (DRSSW);96 in Northern Ireland it is the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme (DRSP);97 and in Scotland it is the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) collaborative.98
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If you participate in an NHS diabetic eye screening programme you should follow local protocols.
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If a patient does not intend to attend the local NHS diabetic eye screening programme, you should offer them a dilated retinal examination. This can be part of a sight test or an additional separate service.
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Even if you offer a dilated retinal examination with appropriate fundus photography or imaging, you should make it clear that your service is not an alternative to the NHS diabetic eye screening programme which conforms to National Screening Committee standards.
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You should not use the term ‘screening’ unless you are referring to a quality assured scheme which meets national standards.
References
95 Department of Health (2012) Public health functions to be exercised by the NHS Commissioning Board. Service specification No.22, NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]96 Wales Eyecare Services. Diabetic Eye Screening Wales (DESW) [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
97 Northern Ireland Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DRSP) [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]
98 Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) Collaborative [Accessed 1 Nov 2023]