Health: Diabetes

House of Lords written question – answered at on 14 February 2012.

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Photo of The Earl of Courtown The Earl of Courtown Conservative

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to reduce the frequency of diabetic eye complication screening for (1) individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus, or (2) individuals presenting without retinopathy.

Photo of Earl Howe Earl Howe The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health

The UK National Screening Committee, which advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy, recommends that all people with diabetes aged 12 and over should be offered screening for diabetic retinopathy on an annual basis. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance also recommends annual screening.

Research is currently being undertaken to examine whether variable screening intervals can be introduced. The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is working closely with other United Kingdom countries to evaluate existing data to determine whether the screening interval could safely be increased for some people with diabetes. However, it will take a number of years before the evidence base and technology to support variable screening intervals will be available.

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