DIABETES ACTION PLAN 2010

DIABETES ACTION PLAN 2010
QUALITY CARE FOR DIABETES IN SCOTLAND
3.4 Eye care
Where we want to be:
Scotland should have a world-class retinopathy screening programme which identifies eye
problems at early stages with a view to reducing significant visual loss in people with
diabetes.
Why we want to be there:
The diabetic retinopathy screening service in Scotland has been implemented in all NHS
Boards since 2006 and has made major strides in recent years. Scotland has a qualityassured
service based on digital imaging. Most eligible people with diabetes have now
been assessed at least twice and new versions of the software have been introduced.
National study days have allowed multidisciplinary teams from across Scotland to share
expertise and encourage innovation. The experience of the Scottish Diabetic Retinal
Screening (DRS) service has been shared with other UK and European countries in the
planning and development of their programmes. It is important that the level of quality
achieved by this service is maintained.
The vision of the DRS collaborative is to offer a safe, effective, efficient, equitable and
quality assured service to all people with diabetes, to detect diabetic retinopathy in a
timely manner and to ensure that treatment is offered to reduce visual impairment and
blindness. Feedback from the consultation process by people with diabetes recognised the
improved service for retinal screening.
DRS Screening ‘at home’ in the Western Isles
27