Earlier this year the group helped Jenny MacKenzie, a research nurse with the Diabetic Eye Screening Unit at Gloucester Royal Hospital, with her research into diabetic eye screening in Gloucestershire. Our help consisted of “test running” a questionnaire she had devised that would be completed by people when attending their eye screening appointments. After the group had tested the questionnaire, some modifications were suggested to the layout and wording, which Jenny was happy to incorporate.
Jenny has now completed her research and has forwarded a brief resume of the results, as follows:
I have completed my research study and I thought your group might be interested in
some of my findings.
Importantly, the majority of my study participants were unaware they could attend
Diabetic eye Screening at different venues throughout the year, they understood it to be
simply a ‘once a year opportunity’ at their GP surgery.
Patients in the working age group prioritised work above attending Diabetic Eye
Screening, but they were mostly unaware of the existence of ‘mop-up’ clinics which are
held on weekdays, Saturdays and some evenings. I am enclosing a list of these clinics
for the information of your support group.
The majority of patients were aware that Diabetic Retinopathy affects the back of the
eyes, however only a minority knew that if retinopathy was not identified and treated
early, it could lead to blindness.
I concluded that there was a high priority issue concerning communication between GP
surgeries, Diabetic Eye Screening and patients. Possible ways to improve this situation
are currently being addressed by the Gloucestershire Diabetic Eye Screening team.
Meetings with GP surgery staff resulted in a request for Eye Screening to provide some
colourful posters in different languages, containing information about mop-up clinics; it
was thought this might encourage attendance.
Some patients expressed an interest in booking appointments and contacting the Eye
screening team via email which is not yet possible unfortunately. The option for text
reminders of appointments was thought to be really useful by most study participants
and is being investigated.
The study has provided important new information which the Gloucestershire Diabetic
Eye Screening Programme can use as it continues to develop service improvements.
Thank you again for the assistance of your support group.
Jenny Mackenzie
Senior Diabetic Eye Screener I Grader
Failsafe Co-ordinator
The details of the clinics mentioned above are:
DIABETIC EYE SCREENING
GLOUCESTER ROYAL HOSPITAL
Clinics held in 1st Floor, Orchard Centre
Drop-in clinics every Tuesday (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – no booking required
Saturday clinic (appointments 8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) twice a month
Late clinic (appointments 11.30 a.m. – 7 p.m.) twice a month
Standard clinics (appointments 8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) weekly
CHELTENHAM GENERAL HOSPITAL
Clinics held in Medical Photography, Centre Block
Drop-in clinics last Wednesday of month (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – no booking required
Saturday clinic (appointments 8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) once a month
Late clinic (appointments 11.30 a.m. – 7 p.m.) twice a month
Standard clinics (appointments 8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) weekly
STROUD GENERAL HOSPITAL
Clinics held in Bowbridge Outpatients
Clinics on second Monday and Tuesday of each month
(appointments 8.30 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Please call to make an appointment
0300 422 2216 / 2173
Mike Broome