Local MP Backs Diabetes Eye Screening Campaign

Local MP Andy Reed is backing Diabetes UK’s new campaign ‘Action today, health tomorrow’.

Reed announced his support during National Diabetes Week (13th-19th June), and called for retinopathy screening to be made available to all sufferers of diabetes. 41 per cent of people with diabetes are at risk of unnecessary blindness because their eyes aren’t being checked at all, or they’re not being checked with a digital camera.

Reed said:

“We need to be in a situation where all sufferers of diabetes can have access to the appropriate screening. At the moment 41% of people with diabetes are at risk of unnecessary blindness because either they aren’t getting their eyes checked, or because the appropriate equipment is not being used.

“The Government aims to have 80% of sufferers being screened by March 2006 and 100% by 2007. I am calling for urgent action for sufferers locally who have the right to not have their sight put at risk.

“The Department of Health have published a joint report with Diabetes UK this week on patient education. If anyone would like further information then I would recommend they visit www.diabetes.org.uk or give them a call on 020 7424 1000.”