Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I welcome Deputies' valuable contributions to the debate on the development of a retinopathy screening programme. I concur with the point made by many Deputies that the development of a screening programme is an important preventative measure in dealing with one of the most distressing complications arising from diabetes, namely diabetic retinopathy, which can result in blindness.

I assure Deputy Reilly that the Health Service Executive is in the process of implementing the programme. The publication by the HSE of a report on this issue in November 2008 was an important step. Deputies O'Shea and Jan O'Sullivan asked whether the programme will definitely proceed. Local structures are being established for the implementation of the programme and the HSE has given a commitment on what will be done in 2009. This includes a recruitment process for eight posts and the roll-out of the programme to the west. The Department has also asked the HSE to examine extending the programme.

Deputy O'Connor is correct that the publication of the framework document marks an important step in establishing a high standard, quality assured programme for diabetic retinopathy screening. The document presents a vision of a national population based programme of retinopathy screening, offered to all those with diabetes aged 12 years and over who are registered with the programme. The programme will be delivered locally and provided to the highest internationally comparable standards. It promises to be reliable, comprehensive and secure in compliance with data protection legislation.

Deputy O'Shea referred to hospital retinopathy services. While retinopathy screening is also provided in hospitals across the country, this service is different from the population based call and recall programme which will be established in the north west and west areas. The Deputy also outlined his personal experience and asked whether it was necessary to test the general population. The expert advice available to the Department is that systematic testing for diabetes in the general population should not be carried out. However, the Department and HSE continue to evaluate this policy.

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