Mr Tony Newton: I repeat that I shall say something about screening in a few moments. Clause 11 safeguards competition, which has had a significant effect by reducing the price of spectacles and increasing choice. We believe that that will restrain the cost of sight tests. We propose to safeguard competition by requiring the optician after a sight test to give the patient a prescription, if glasses are...
Robin Cook: ...for another reduction in health services which are free at the time of use. For that reason. it is objectionable. The clause also provides a charge that will discourage people from attending for a screening process. It is being put forward by a Government who proclaim their commitment to preventive medicine. It is impossible to square that paradox. I shall not rehearse the debate on the...
Robin Cook: ...If the instances of glaucoma among that 2·5 million is the same as that for the population as a whole, we will miss 10,000 cases of glaucoma annually. We may miss another 10,000 cases of diabetic retinopathy. Glaucoma cannot be reversed. It can be arrested, but when it has proceeded to too advanced a stage, it cannot be reversed. When it is found too late, the sufferers are going blind....
Sam Galbraith: ...I acknowledge once again my hon. Friend's interest in this matter and the tremendous contribution that he has made to the debate, to the benefit of all those involved. I do not want to prejudge the screening committee's conclusions, but it is important to tackle the serious complications of this disease. That can be done, in many cases, by making the diagnosis early. As my hon. Friend...
John Denham: ...the BDA and the MRC, which takes place in the NHS. More than £4 million a year of that funding supports endocrinology and diabetes research. I shall deal briefly with issues surrounding diabetes screening. The UK national screening committee is considering the case for introducing a screening programme targeted at people at high risk of contracting type 2 diabetes. We expect to receive...
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: My Lords, these are all matters which the national service framework will need to consider. The National Screening Committee has recently completed a project on screening for diabetic retinopathy. Ministers will receive that report shortly. That, too, will be considered by the national service framework. One factor which may underlie the rise in diabetes is the sedentary life of many people...
Susan Deacon: The UK National Screening Committee, an expert advisory body to all the UK Health Departments, is currently developing a programme of screening for diabetic retinopathy. The committee is considering actively how it might be possible to identify "at risk" groups for further targeted screening.
Susan Deacon: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning in cancer, organisation of screening services for diabetic retinopathy, and interventions to overcome alcohol dependency will be the first Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) performed by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) and reflect major commitments in Our National Health: a plan for action, a plan for change. Specifically, these...
John Bercow: ...parties to sign up to its pledge to recognise that diabetes is a serious disease, to appreciate the importance of early diagnosis--which is accomplished, not least, through early and comprehensive screening programmes--and to accept that each and every diabetes sufferer has a right to receive the best possible treatment available, irrespective of who he or she is, where that person comes...
Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) is currently conducting three Health Technology Assessments. These are in the areas of organisation of services for diabetic retinopathy screening, PET imaging for cancer management and prevention of relapse in alcohol dependence.
Hazel Blears: ...that 15 authorities are involved—but I am delighted to inform the hon. Gentleman that he will have a rehabilitation centre, a physiotherapy gym, specialist general practitioner services, breast screening, diabetic retinopathy services, updating of X-ray equipment, and even more. Those services will be greatly appreciated by people in the south of the borough, and this will be a...
Malcolm Chisholm: ...assessment. For example, in November last year, more than 130 health professionals and patients and carers attended HTBS workshops about its assessment of the organisation for services for diabetic retinopathy screening. Additionally, HTBS draws on the expertise of its Public Involvement Working Group, NHS Reference Group, Advisory Council, and Communications Reference Group to improve,...
Paul Burstow: ...treatment, and good aftercare and rehabilitation can make a significant difference. In some cases, they can save sight; in others, they can help people to cope better with loss of sight. Regular screening is therefore vital. Promotion of awareness of eye care needs and eye health is also important. The campaign launched by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, the RNIB and others to...
Jacqui Smith: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence published a clinical guideline on the early management of and screening for diabetic retinopathy on 5 March, as part of its series on the management of Type II diabetes.
Lord Clement-Jones: ...years after the onset of the disease. As a result, up to 50 per cent of patients already show signs of complications at the point of diagnosis. These include heart disease, stroke, renal failure; retinopathy often leading to blindness; and neuropathy often leading to amputation caused by persistently raised levels of blood glucose damaging the nerves and the large and small blood vessels....
Jacqui Smith: We have set a new target for the national health service to improve diabetic retinopathy screening. We have invested #20 million to modernise cataract services. At the same time, the Royal National Institute for the Blind is working with us to develop a resource pack for implementation of the Older People's National Service Framework. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence are also...
Jacqui Smith: ...and have a close interest in this issue, and I welcome that. The two targets that I outlined, for improving the monitoring and treatment provided through primary care and for ensuring that diabetic retinopathy screening is more widely available, are in the planning and performance framework. That is the programme for the NHS for the next three years, and it will receive historic levels of...
Jacqui Smith: The National Health Service is receiving unprecedented growth for investment across health services. We have set a new target for the NHS to improve diabetic retinopathy screening. We have also invested #20 million to modernise cataract services. Furthermore, free NHS sight tests for everyone aged 60 and over were reintroduced from April 1999, at an annual cost of #50 million. The Department...
Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will publish the diabetes National Service Framework implementation plan; and if he will make a statement; (2) when a comprehensive diabetic retinopathy screening programme will be in place in England.
Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure diabetic patients receive retinopathy screening through the national health service.