Written question asked by Baroness Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 24 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 January 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 9 February 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Diabetics (Eye Tests)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions her Department has had with (a) patient groups and (b) clinicians on regular eye tests for diabetics.

Answer: The national service framework for diabetes has a specific target of screening everyone at risk of diabetic retinopathy, and ensuring they are treated, by the end of 2007. Patient representatives and clinicians have played an important role on the national diabetic retinopathy screening project advisory group set up to steer the development of the screening programme.Free sight tests on the national health service are available to people with diabetes and we recommend people with diabetes have their eyes tested every year.

Secondary information