Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Service Q & A Report

Healthwatch Rochdale produced this report following concerns from local residents about the removal of the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening service from the Phoenix Centre in Heywood without public consultation. The report investigates the reasons for the service change, records the views of local people, and summarises discussions with NHS England commissioners. 

The report highlights the importance of diabetic retinopathy screening, noting that diabetes prevalence in Rochdale was increasing and that retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme is designed to detect and treat sight-threatening retinopathy early to reduce the risk of vision loss. 

NHS England explained that the removal of the service from the Phoenix Centre followed a serious incident in February 2014 involving screening equipment and secure IT requirements. As a result, six alternative community-based sites were identified to continue the service safely. NHS England stated that these arrangements were intended to be temporary and were introduced without consultation because of the urgency of maintaining safe screening services.

In response to public concerns, Healthwatch Rochdale organised a question-and-answer event involving NHS England commissioners, public health representatives, service users and local residents. During the event, attendees expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of communication, consultation and clarity surrounding the service changes. Residents raised concerns about accessibility, transport difficulties, appointment attendance, and the suitability of replacement locations, particularly for disabled people and those reliant on public transport. 

Feedback from attendees suggested that many felt their questions had not been fully answered. Participants criticised the decision-making process, the lack of patient consultation, and the difficulties experienced when travelling to alternative screening sites. Several comments highlighted frustration with the complexity of explanations provided by NHS representatives. 

A positive outcome of the event was NHS England's commitment to involve the public in future decisions about screening locations. An engagement process was established, allowing local people to contribute to discussions regarding future service provision and access arrangements. 

During the event, some attendees also raised concerns about conditions at the screening facility within Rochdale Infirmary, describing it as unhygienic, cluttered and difficult to access. However, following a site visit, Healthwatch Rochdale concluded that the room was clean, tidy, clearly signposted and fit for purpose.

Healthwatch also learned that bookings had been made for diabetic retinopathy screening to return to the Phoenix Centre between November 2015 and April 2016. However, at the time the report was published, neither NHS England nor Pennine Acute Trust had formally confirmed the reinstatement of the service. 

The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme Manager stated that the changes were made for safety and quality reasons rather than cost-cutting purposes. He explained that plans were being developed to expand the service, improve access through additional sites and evening appointments, and increase patient engagement and screening uptake across the region. 

The report concludes with four recommendations: service users should be informed and consulted when significant service changes are proposed; technical information should be communicated in a way that the public can easily understand; NHS complaints procedures should be clear, transparent and easy to access; and service providers should be actively involved in consultation and engagement processes.