A new screening service to monitor the eyesight of people with diabetes has been introduced to increase the number of people having this vital test.

NHS Bradford and Airedale has procured a new provider – Medical Imaging UK Limited – for its diabetic retinopathy screening programme.

The service monitors the eyesight of about 28,000 people with diabetes across the district.

The test is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over, whose eyesight can deteriorate and, if left untreated, result in blindness. People with diabetes are called annually to have a photograph taken of their retinas to look for signs of sight-threatening disease.

However, many people were not attending screening as they found appointments inconvenient or difficult to get to.

The new provider proposes to increase the number of testing sites across the district and introduce a mobile service in GP practices and health centres.

Kate Horsfall, screening manager at NHS Bradford and Airedale, said: “The new diabetic retinopathy screening service has been designed around the needs of patients to help increase the number of people with diabetes who access this important annual check.

“Our new provider, Medical Imaging UK Ltd, will run clinics from a variety of community settings, such as health centres, across the district, which patients have told us would be more convenient for them. We have also looked at areas of low uptake as part of a health equality assessment to help us provide an even more accessible service in the future with mobile clinics.

“I would urge all people with diabetes who are invited to a screening appointment to make sure they get their annual check as it monitors their eyesight and helps prevent deterioration and sight loss.

“We will review how the new service develops and carry out patient surveys to make sure the service continues to meet their needs.”

A report about the new service goes before Bradford Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday at 4.30pm at Bradford City Hall.

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