Covid-19 update - January/February 2021
Eye Screening Appointments Available
Diabetic Eye Screening, along with many other NHS services are still operational. Healthcare appointments are allowed whilst Covid-19 restrictions are in place, even if you’re a person who is shielding. It is important to continue to access healthcare if an appointment has been offered or made for you.
Public Health England guidance states that anyone who has not shown any signs of diabetic eye disease at their last screening should have their screening timing extended. This will allow those patients at higher risk of developing sight-threatening diabetic eye disease to have their appointment sooner, while helping to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19. Therefore:
- If your last screening was 1st April 2019 or after, and you had no evidence of diabetic eye disease, your next screening invitation will now be sent out within 24 months from your last screening date. You will receive a letter instructing you if this applies to you.
- If your last screening was before 1st April 2019, or your last screening was after 1st April 2019 and your result was that diabetic eye disease was present, you will be invited to attend eye screening yearly as normal.
Please be aware that, due to social distancing and new safe working practices, the number of appointments may be reduced from what was previously available.
If you need to speak to someone urgently about Eye Screening, please contact our administration team on 0333 456 7887.
If you experience any issues with your eyes, please call your opticians or GP surgery for assistance. For emergency issues (eg sight threatening disease or eye injuries), please contact:
More information about Covid-19 is also available from University Hospitals Birmingham and the NHS.
