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The Herts and West Essex (HWE) diabetic eye screening programme (DESP) is part of a national programme dedicated to screening patients with diabetes to detect diabetic eye disease (retinopathy).
Diabetic retinopathy is a sight-threatening condition that can affect anyone with diabetes. It affects the retina at the back of the eye and is caused when the blood vessels become blocked, leak, or grow haphazardly. If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may not be aware of any changes to the retina until your vision is impaired, at which point it may not be possible to completely restore vision; this is why it is essential to have their eyes screened regularly if you have diabetes. You will be invited annually or every two years dependant on clinical need.
Find out more about our service in this short video:
Regular screening enables the monitoring of any retinal changes with subsequent referral to the hospital eye service, if required. We are dedicated to making sure you feel comfortable and ensuring you are kept fully informed at each stage of the screening process.
You can book, reschedule or cancel your diabetic eye screening appointment online. If you are eligible, you will find your booking PIN on your appointment invitation letter. This service is not available to new patients, or patients requiring more complex appointments.
- Contact the service
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
Contact the service
Tel: 01442 285 854 (new HWE DESP number)
Email: hct.hwedesp@nhs.net
You should not drive until your vision returns to normal, which can take up to 6 hours.
Diabetic Eye Screening Programme clinics are held at the following locations:
The Avenue Health Centre
The Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 3NU
Bedford Road Health Centre
Bedford Road,Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1HF
Central Surgery
Waiting Room A
Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, CM21 9AQ
Cheshunt Community Hospital
King Arthur Court, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire,EN8 8XN
Dunmow Community Clinic
58 New Street, Great Dunmow Essex, CM6 1BH
Elstree Way Clinic
Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JT
Gossoms End Clinic
Gossoms Ryde, Off Victory Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1DL
Harpenden Memorial Hospital
Carlton Road, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4TA
Hertford County Hospital
Clinic D
North Road, Hertford, Hertfordshire,SG14 1LP
Latton Bush Centre
Green Room
Southern Way, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7BL
Lister Hospital, Stevenage
Ophthalmology Outpatients
Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 4AB
The Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre
39-41 The Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire,HP1 1LD
New QE11 Hospital
Red Zone, 1st Floor
Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 4HQ
North Approach, Bridgewater Surgeries
95 North Approach, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 0EL
Ongar Health Centre
Exam Room E
57 Fyfield Road, Chipping OngarEssex, CM5 0AL
Park Drive Health Centre
Park Drive, Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 6EN
Peace Centre
Prospect Place, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 3EW
Potters Bar Hospital
Outpatient Department
Barnet Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 2RY
Rectory Lane Health Centre
Rectory Lane, Loughton, Essex, IG10 3RU
Saffron Walden Community Hospital
Radwinter Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3HY
Skidmore Health Centre
Skidmore Way, Rickmansworth, WD3 1SZ
South Oxhey Clinic
Oxhey Drive, South Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD19 7SF
St Albans Health and Wellbeing Centre
Civic Centre, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE
Waltham Cross Health Centre
Stanhope Road, Waltham Cross, Essex, EN8 7DJ
Watford General Hospital
Ophthalmology Department
Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0HB
How the service is provided
All diabetes patients are offered appointments in dedicated eye screening clinics.
Who is eligible for the service
The Diabetic Eye Screening Programme offers retinal screening to all people with diabetes, aged 12 and over, who live in the Hertfordshire and West Essex catchment area.
What will happen at your appointment
At the screening appointment the screener will check your sight on a letter chart (please bring your spectacles). Eye drops will be put into your eyes to dilate your pupils to enable high quality photographs of the retinae (back of the eyes) using a digital camera. Once your pupils are sufficiently dilated, usually after 20 minutes, two photographs are taken of each eye.
The photographs are analysed at our grading centre for any changes to the retinae which may require monitoring or treatment and will go through at least two grading processes to ensure accuracy before the results are sent to you and your GP.
Please note, the eye drops may sting for a few seconds after they have been administered and will temporarily blur your vision, this can last for up to 3-4 hours. They will make your eyes sensitive to bright light, preventing you from reading or driving for the duration of the blurring. Due to the blurring of your vision it is important that you do not drive after your eye screening appointment, as this could invalidate your car insurance.
Useful information
Retinopathy
Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, so to reduce your risk of developing retinopathy, or to stop it from getting worse, research has shown the following aspects of good diabetic control to be of significant benefit:
- good blood glucose control
- good blood pressure - below 130/80 or less
- total cholesterol - less than 4mmol/l
Eating a healthy balanced diet, losing weight (if necessary) and keeping active with regular exercise are important in the control of diabetes. If you smoke, it is advised you should try to stop - advice and support to help you stop smoking can be sought from the Hertfordshire Stop Smoking Service. They can be contacted on 0800 389 3998 or text SMOKEFREE on 80818.
Making a referral
If you are worried about your eyes, you should see a doctor or optician for advice.
Referrals to the eye screening programme should be made using the GP and DSN referral form or for pregnant patients, referrals can be sent by:
Email: hct.hwedesp@nhs.net
Tel: 01442 285 854
Address: Herts and West Essex Diabetic Eye Screening Programme
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, Sandridge Gate Business Centre, Ronsons Way, off St Albans Road, St Albans, Herts, AL4 9XR
Patient experience
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email pals.hchs@nhs.net.
We would also love to hear about your experience of our service - please complete a survey by clicking here.
