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Patient views sought to help shape sight saving service for diabetics

31 Jul 2015 - 10:13 by michelle.foster

Patients across Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale, Oldham and Bury are being asked their views on diabetic eye screening.

The North East Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NEDESP) is carrying out a review of screening sites and wants the views of diabetic patients on where they can go to be screened.

Tanveer Kausser, Programme Manager, North East Manchester Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, said: “Diabetic Eye Screening is a vital part of diabetes care and aims to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst patients with diabetes. It is important that as many patients as possible contribute to the engagement process to help shape the future delivery of this important service.”

NEDESP is commissioned by NHS England and provided by The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Jane Pilkington, Head of Public Health for NHS England in Lancashire and Greater Manchester said: “Our ambition is to achieve an increase in the number of people taking up the screening offer whilst at the same time ensuring the provision of safe and high quality screening services.”

To achieve this NHS England, together with The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, is undertaking the review of the screening sites. This will help to decide the best possible way of providing services to meet the needs of local populations with the resources available. Key considerations are accessibility, transport and appointment times.

Audrey Howarth, Screening and Immunisation Manager for NHS England in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, said: “Local patients are key to providing this information and need to be involved in this review process. Their views and experiences are vital to ensuring that we shape the services around what people need so a formal engagement process will be carried out.

A pre-engagement exercise has been carried out to help inform the possible options for the new services and formal patient engagement will be launched on August 3 and will be carried out by NHS North West Commissioning Support Unit.

Patients and their representatives will be able to take part in a number of ways including four events running between 2pm and 7pm each day:

• Tuesday 4 August at Middleton Masonic Hall, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DY
• Wednesday 5 August at Oldham Queen Elizabeth Hall, West Street, Oldham, OL1 1QJ
• Thursday 6 August at Bury Masonic Lodge, 25 Parsons Lane, Bury, BL9 0LY
• Thursday 20 August at Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AB

Refreshments will be available at each session.

From 3 August to 31 August patients can also choose their preferred option by going to: www.nemdesp.co.uk and completing the survey on line.

Alternatively, patients can call the Diabetic Eye Screening Team on 01706 901711 and complete the survey over the phone. The number will be available 8.30 – 16.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30 – 4 pm on Friday. Staff will call patients back so they are not paying for the call.

Patients can also request a paper copy and pre-paid return envelope if they wish to complete the survey by post.

The outcome of the patient engagement process is set to be completed by the end of the summer.

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