Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Action Group want to see service brought back to Heywood

After the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening service was withdrawn from Heywood, a number of those who used the service have come together to try and get it reinstated.

The service, which was withdrawn in October 2014, was held at the Phoenix Centre on a regular basis for diabetic patients who need to have a retinopathy screening.

Group founder, Janet Lees said she was only aware that the service had stopped when she received a letter.

She said: “The first I knew about the service being stopped was when I got my letter for my appointment and it said I had to go to Rochdale Infirmary. I always go to the Phoenix Centre because I live in Heywood so when I rang them and said I go to Heywood, they said it isn’t there anymore.”

Diabetic Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the cells at the back at the eye. If it isn’t treated then it can cause blindness. This is why it is vital that people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have regular retinopathy screenings.

Ms Lees said: “The thing that has frustrated us the most is that there was never any public consultation around this. We just got told it was gone and that was it. We had no warning whatsoever.”

After the screening has taken place, patients are advised not to drive as the eye drops used in the screening can cause blurred vision.

“If we have to go to Rochdale or Bury for this screening, we would have to use public transport or get family or friends to take us. For me, it could cost £9-£10 in a taxi to where I live in Heywood and that’s not fair,” added Ms Lees.

Since the loss of the service in Heywood, The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Action group has gained over 100 members and members have gathered a petition which has received over 1,000 signatures.

Ms Lees added: “This issue has really got people annoyed. There has been a lack of communication. No one has spoken to us about it and we want that to change. People are upset about this and because of that are cancelling their appointments.”

Ms Lees and the group have already met with Councillor Peter Rush, Peter Malcolm and Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate Anthony Smith in relation to the issue and held a public meeting on Tuesday (24 February) with the NHS Commissioning Group, who cancelled the service, and Healthwatch, which has supported the group since the service was closed.

Dr Graham Wardman, Consultant in Screening and Immunisation for NHS England (Greater Manchester), said: “Following a serious incident in the diabetic eye screening programme last year, a decision was taken for screening to be delivered on an interim basis from six sites in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Oldham and Bury areas to maintain the safety of the programme.

“NHS England (Greater Manchester) will now shortly begin an engagement process with patients with diabetes across the three boroughs to identify where screening should be delivered in future to enable the highest uptake of this important programme. It is envisaged that this process will be completed in the summer and we expect more screening sites will then be available to patients including those in Heywood.”