Lancashire Diabetic Eye Screening Programme

On 1 April 2019, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) became the new service provider for the Lancashire Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP), taking responsibility from EMIS Care who provided the service to patients across Lancashire between April 2017 to 31 March 2019.

If there is information about the Lancashire DESP you cannot find on these pages, please contact us.

Diabetic Eye Screening Service Provider

Why is this happening?

The contract for diabetic eye screening in Lancashire is reviewed at set periods to ensure the very possible service for patients. As a result of the latest review, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was awarded the eye screening contract for Lancashire starting 1 April 2019.

What is the difference?

The Lancashire DESP is provided by ELHT. NHS England has appointed ELHT to deliver the service on their behalf. This means your diabetic eye screening programme is integrated within the NHS.

Who are East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust?

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) was established in 2003 and is a large integrated health care organisation providing a range of community care and high quality acute secondary healthcare primarily for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen as well as a range of specialist services across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

ELHT brings 10 years’ previous experience of running an efficient and well managed DESP including a high quality screening process, high levels of patient satisfaction and an 87% uptake rate.

Patients

What does it mean for me?

What happens in your annual screening appointment will not change. Your screening invitations and results will continue to be sent to you and your GP as before.

For patients, you will continue to be offered screening in local community clinics, health centres and GP Surgeries as before. 

Screening locations have been carefully selected to ensure the service is easy to access and that you will have plenty of choice. You will have the opportunity to feedback on the screening locations at your next appointment.

How do I make or change or appointment?

There is a central booking line for making or changing appointments.

The programme uses a closed booking system; this means the local booking team will assign you an appointment based on your historical screening preferences and last screening date. If this is not available, you will be given an appointment at a venue closest to your home address.

Any appointments can easily be changed by contacting the booking team over the phone, via email or by post. 

Your invitation letter will detail the location and time of your appointment.

What about my data for previous appointments?

If you have been screened by EMIS Care, your screening record will transfer to the NHS provider East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in line with a standard data sharing agreement. This is common practice for NHS services.

A letter containing all of this information has also been created, it can be posted to you upon request.

Staff involved in your screening are employed by an NHS body or an NHS partner company commissioned to provide services. All those involved in your diabetic eye screening follow the same NHS standards of confidentiality.

Please let staff know if you have any particular concerns about any particular individual or company.

Feedback

We are committed to providing the highest quality service whilst achieving the highest standards of conduct.

If you would like to comment on or if you are unhappy with the service you have received, we would encourage you to discuss this with the staff or individuals involved directly where possible. Alternatively you can contact our customer service representative by:

Writing:

Comments and Complaints

Lancashire DESP

The Holden Centre

Gisburn Road

Barrowford

Lancashire

BB9 8NF

Secure email: lancs.desp@nhs.net or using our contact form

Telephone: 01282 803013

Please note, if you are responding on behalf of someone else, we will need to make sure they have given their consent for you to do this

Appointments & Enquiries

Lancashire DESP Appointments & Booking Office (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm)

The Holden Centre

Gisburn Road

Barrowford

Lancashire

BB9 8NF

Tel: 01282 803013

Email: lancs.desp@nhs.net