Diabetic eye screening programme

NHS diabetic eye screening programme

Our team consists of a programme manager, an ophthalmologist, optometrists, retinal screeners/graders and administrative staff who are all nationally accredited.

Services operate across County Durham and Darlington and are held in varying venues providing patients with care as close to their home as possible.

The first point of contact for our patients is our dedicated appointment staff who can offer and amend appointments at all locations and offer times suitable to patient needs.

Our dedicated telephone appointment booking line is 01325 342113.

The aim of the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is to reduce the risk of sight loss for people with diabetes, by the prompt identification and effective treatment of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, at the appropriate stage during the disease process.  Systematic screening involves digital photography of the retina followed by a two - or three - stage image grading process to identify the changes of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in the retina.

This service is available to people with diabetes over the age of 12 throughout County Durham and Darlington (patients in East Durham and Easington receive their treatment from another NHS provider) and is administered from Memorial Hall, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington with clinics in Darlington, Durham Dales, Derwentside, Durham & Chester le Street and Sedgefield localities.

Patients are contacted by letter to attend for Diabetic Eye Screening. Diabetic Eye Screening DOES NOT replace regular vision checks with an Optometrist (Ophthalmic Optician), who should also be seen by patients for regular eye examinations relating to provision of spectacles.

How can diabetic eye screening help?

Diabetic retinopathy is due to damage associated with the blood vessels supplying the retina, the 'seeing' part of the eye, which, if left untreated will cause serious deterioration in the acuteness of vision. Diabetic retinopathy is the single most common cause of blindness among people aged between 16 and 64 in Great Britain.

The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is a national screening service available for all members of the public aged 12 and over who have diabetes.

The aim of the programme is to detect retinopathy at an early stage so treatment can be given which can avoid future complications or blindness.

Appointment line contact number

Tel: 01325 342113

Opening hours for appointment bookings

8.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday

Service information

County Durham & Darlington Diabetic Eye Screening Programme Administration Services are based at Memorial Hall, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington and allocate appointments for all clinics indicated below.

Diabetic Eye Screening takes place at the following locations:

Clinic days and times

Clinics run across all sites on varying weekdays throughout the month with the first appointment of the day at 8.40am and the last appointment at 4pm.  Appointments usually last for 30 to 40 minutes and require the administration of eye drops the effects of which may last up to six hours before your vision returns to normal.  You must not drive until you are confident your vision has returned to normal, to do so before your vision has recovered may invalidate your motor insurance cover.

How do people access the service?

Referrals are received from your General Practitioner as soon as you have been diagnosed with diabetes regardless of age.  Referrals received for those under the age of 12 are held until their twelfth birthday when an initial appointment is then sent.

Contact details - to book or change appointments and for general enquiries

Telephone: 01325 342113

Should you require any further information please refer to http://diabeticeye.screening.nhs.uk/public

Have you been a patient within the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme?

If so, we would appreciate your help in understanding how you view our services and what improvements you feel we could make.

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County Durham and Darlington NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme Team