Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that diabetics have an increased risk of eye disease; and her plans to begin a programme of screening for diabetic eye disease. [36791/06]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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In recent reports Diabetes: Prevention and Model for Patient Care and the Diabetes Federation of Ireland publication Diabetes: Securing the future the issue of a structured retinopathy screening programme has been identified as a priority for Irish patients.

The HSE is responding to the Diabetes policy Diabetes: Prevention and Model for Patient Care published by the Department of Health and Children in 2006 and its specific recommendations. The key issue in screening for diabetic retinopathy is to identify those people with sight threatening retinopathy who may require preventative treatment. There are two main approaches to screening for diabetic retinopathy

Opthalmoscopy and biomicroscopy

Retinal photography and subsequent grading

Screening is usually provided in stationary centres and/or mobile units. In Ireland there is a mobile community unit providing services in the North West. This programme uses digital imaging as the preferred method of screening. Preliminary results are coming back and the HSE are reviewing these at the moment.

At present in the North East region a pilot retinal screening programme for type two diabetics enrolled in the Diabetes Watch scheme is in progress but this currently only covers approximately 1000 diabetics. This service is a mobile service and involves digital retinal photography. It is nurse run and led by a community ophthalmologist with specialist training in retinal disease management. It is linked directly into treatment of detected diabetes in the public hospital system.

An Expert Advisory Group is to be established shortly within the HSE in order to prioritise Diabetes care. This group will act as advisors to the CEO and the HSE and will determine the appropriate strategy and monitor the effectiveness of its implementation through the HSE. One of the priorities identified by the HSE is the roll out of a retinopathy screening programme.