WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH, 2020

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: STAFF MANNING INFORMATION STAND GROUND FLOOR (beside LUSH), OVERGATE SHOPPING CENTRE, DUNDEE ON THURSDAY, 5 MARCH AT 10.30AM

Raising awareness of diabetic eye screening service

Staff from the NHS Tayside’s Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme will be hosting an information stand in the Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee on Thursday, 5 March to raise awareness of the importance of eye screening.

NHS Tayside’s Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme is part of a national programme which screens all diabetics aged 12 and over to detect any referable diabetic eye disease which can be treated at an early stage.

The team delivers the programme across Tayside from two sites, one at Ninewells Hospital and the other at Perth Royal Infirmary. In addition, the screening service has two mobile vans which deliver clinics to some of the more rural areas ranging from Kinloch Rannoch, Montrose and Kinross ensuring that the service reaches patients in the wider communities across Tayside.

Staff from the service will be on hand to chat about the service and explain the benefits of attending eye screening appointments. It is very important for people living with diabetes to have regular eye screening appointments and it is hoped that this information display will encourage those who may have missed an appointment to attend.

By hosting the display in the shopping centre the team hope to reach out to those patients who may be unsure of what is involved and to demonstrate what a screening process could look like whilst at the same time enabling the public to meet the friendly team of screeners.

NHS Tayside Diabetic Eye Screening Manager Samantha Creamer, said, “The aim of the Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme is to detect potentially sight-threatening changes to the retina in the eye. Picking up changes early, means that these changes can be treated early. 

“We know that very often patients living with diabetes don’t know or are unaware of the changes that are happening, so regular eye screening allows us to pick up any problems early enough to offer early intervention which promotes a good outcome.

“The service use fundus photography which is when images are captured by a special camera and these images are then later assessed by the grading team. At Slit lamp clinics an instant assessment of the patient is carried out using slit lamp equipment and special magnifying lenses. The service has a dedicated admin team who arranges all the appointments and bookings to ensure our patients are seen on time and at a venue which is close to them. 

“Tayside is currently screening above the national target and the team all work extremely hard to provide a patient-centred service.

“I hope that those living with diabetes, their families and friends will visit the stand. Members of the team will be on hand to answer questions about the screening process, explain about the importance of attending for eye screening appointments as well as invite visitors to experience having their eyes photographed.”

More information about NHS Tayside Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme can be found on the service’s dedicated social media pages. These social media platforms help the service communicate with patients including where the service will be visiting in the next few months, any cancelled appointment, changes to the screening service, providing information such as what a test result means and latest news about retinal screening that would be of interest to patients, carers or relatives.

Twitter: @diabeticeyescreeningnhstayside
Facebook: Diabetic Eye Screening NHS Tayside
Instagram: @diabeticeyescreeningnhstayside

Contact:

Anna Michie

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138