Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
837. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason general practitioners making referrals to the national diabetic retinal screening programme can only make individual referrals and cannot simply submit a patient list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19194/14]
View answerDiabetic RetinaScreen, the national diabetic retinopathy screening programme, operates a national call, re-call population screening programme. No referrals are required. This mirrors the approach taken with other population based screening programmes, BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and BowelScreen. Diabetic RetinaScreen provides a facility to all GPs whereby they can register their patient with the programme once a diagnosis of diabetes has been confirmed and also obtained their patient’s consent to register with the programme. Health professionals can also check if their existing diabetic patients are on the diabetic retinopathy register. Registration is currently undertaken by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55. This will shortly be supplemented by an on-line registration facility.
