Macleod House
10 Parkway
London NW1 7AA
Tel 020 7424 1000
Fax 020 7424 1001
Email info@diabetes.org.uk
Website www.diabetes.org.uk
News Release
Embargoed until 15 October 2007
[Insert name of your PCT] Primary Care Trust exposes thousands of people with diabetes
to the risk of blindness
Thousands of local people with diabetes could go blind needlessly because [Insert name of your
PCT] Primary Care Trust is not meeting government targets when it comes to diabetic
retinopathy screening.
Official government guidelines state that 100 per cent of people with diabetes should have been
offered a free digital retinal screening test by the end of 2007 but [Insert name of your PCT] is
only currently screening [insert local retinal screening figures for your PCT].
Many more PCTs in England are failing to achieve adequate screening rates and to address the
current situation, Diabetes UK is launching its retinopathy awareness campaign ‘Your Vision’ on
October 15 2007. The charity wants to ensure that all people with diabetes have access to a free
annual test with a digital camera. In addition, each PCT should also have a systematic call and
recall system to make sure that people with diabetes receive an annual invitation to a test.
Retinal screening is one of the most cost-effective interventions known in medicine. In 90 per
cent of cases retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes affecting the blood vessels
supplying the retina which can lead to blindness, can be treated successfully if caught early.
While a digital retinal screening test only costs around £21* per person to the NHS, statistics **
have shown that the lifetime costs of dealing with retinopathy can be up to £237,000 per person.
The charity for people with diabetes
Page 1 of 2
Diabetes UK is the operating name of the British Diabetic Association
Company limited by guarantee Registered office: 10 Parkway, NW1 7AA
Registered in England no. 339181 Registered charity no. 215199
MIR/173
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Local campaigner [insert your name] said, “It is a scandal that people with diabetes in the local
area are needlessly being put at risk of losing their sight. We have written to the PCT and will
continue campaigning for all people with diabetes to have appropriate access to digital retinal
screening as a matter of urgency." (suggested quote).
Diabetes UK also wants to raise awareness of the link between diabetes and eye problems: a
recent MORI poll showed that 32 per cent of people with diabetes still don’t associate diabetes
with eye disease and blindness.***
The Diabetes UK retinopathy campaign is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from
Lilly.
END
For further information, please contact [insert your contact name and number/email]
* Figures taken from the English Diabetic Screening Project Advisory Group’s website, 2007,
http://www.nscretinopathy.org.uk/pages/nsc.asp?ModT=A&Sec=16
**Figures taken from the Analysis of the Costs of Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United
Kingdom report by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, 2003.
***Figures taken from a public opinion survey conducted by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Diabetes
UK dated 8th February 2007.
Notes to editor
1 People with diabetes are at risk of developing a complication called retinopathy. Retinopathy affects the blood
vessels supplying the retina – the seeing part of the eye. Blood vessels in the retina of the eye can become
blocked, leaky or grow haphazardly. This damage gets in the way of the light passing through to the retina and if
left untreated can damage vision.
2 Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body
can’t use it properly.
3 Through a long-standing commitment to diabetes care, Lilly provides patients with breakthrough treatments that
enable them to live longer, healthier, and fuller lives. Diabetes UK is working in partnership with Lilly to raise
awareness of diabetic retinopathy amongst people with diabetes.
4 Diabetes UK is the charity for people with diabetes. With 170,000 members we are the largest patient body in
Europe and one of the largest funders of diabetes research in the UK. Diabetes UK spends £6 million on research
every year.
5 There are currently 2.2 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK. It is believed that there are also
750,000 people who have the condition but are unaware of it.
6 The Diabetes UK Careline (0845 120 2960) offers information and support on any aspect of managing diabetes.
The line is a lo-call number and opens Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (operates a translation service).
Recorded information on a number of diabetes-related topics is also available on this number 24 hours a day.