Campaign success on diabetics!

19.12.07e

"Good news for 2008"

Kingston and Surbiton MP, Edward Davey, has welcomed news that Kingston PCT is to commit new funds for a comprehensive screening service for diabetics. Edward has been campaigning for this for many months, after discovering that earlier this year that only 51% of diabetics in Kingston had been screened for diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working adults.

Edward's campaign had included letters to Secretary of State for Health, meetings with Kingston PCT, joint work with the Kingston District Diabetic Group, when they undertook a joint survey to local opticians, as well as work with Diabetes UK.

Edward has learnt this week that Kingston PCT is to:

• Send invitations to 100% of those entitled to retinopathy screening by 31st December 2007
• Have screened 80% by 4th April 2008
• Introduce a permanent scheme, to screen 100% of diabetics with GPs in Kingston, after a tender to be undertaken in the New Year

Commenting Edward Davey MP said:

“Earlier this year I was astonished by our local PCT’s inability to provide a simple screening programme that could save people’s sight. 

"Screening diabetics for eye disease is a vital programme of preventative health care - catching a serious problem so it can be cured before it's too late - so I'm delighted that the PCT have now found the cash.

"The number of people with diabetes is already high - and it continues to increase. This screening programme will benefit over 5,000 local people. 

"This is good news on the health front for 2008."