GP FAQs
Please click on a question below for the appropriate answer.
- What if my patient is unsuitable for screening?
- What about patient consent to release the GP diabetic register data to the central database?
- Will I get copies of results?
- How will I know if my patient is referred to an eye clinic for treatment?
- If my patient requires treatment at an eye clinic, who decides where my patient is referred?
- How will I know if my patient does not respond to recall?
- What if I have other questions that are not answered by information on this website?
- If I routinely send letters to remind my patients to have their eyes screened, do I need to continue doing this?
- Do my patients need a pin number in order to be screened digitally?
What if my patient is unsuitable for screening?
The NSC has issued an exclusions document which is available below. After consultation with primary and secondary care clinicians, the document “Excluding patients from screening and patients wishing to opt out: Information for Primary Care” was issued by Dr Wendy Gatling, Clinical Director in March 2007. This document was sent electronically and hard copy to each GP practice. Further copies are available from the screening office. The exclusion forms and opt out forms for patients are available below.
- GP Exclusion Form - 9 March 2007
- Opt out Temporary - 8 March 2007
- Opt out Longer Term - 8 March 2007
- Exclusions Leaflet - 9 March 2007
What about patient consent to release the GP diabetic register data to the central database?
Consent issues have been agreed at national level and details can be found in the NSC Factsheet: transfer and management of patient information in diabetic retinopathy screening programmes.
Will I get copies of results?
A copy of the screening result will be sent to the registered GP. Initially this will be on paper but longer term this will be sent to the practice electronically using a similar method to that used for blood test results.
How will I know if my patient is referred to an eye clinic for treatment?
The copy of the screening result sent to the practice will include information concerning any treatment required.
If my patient requires treatment at an eye clinic, who decides where my patient is referred?
Each patient’s record includes a “usual hospital” field and patients will be referred to an eye clinic at that hospital unless the patient chooses to go elsewhere. The field will be populated from the hospital appointments systems at Royal Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset County Hospitals. If the field is blank the screener will be required to complete the hospital field before screening can be carried out.
How will I know if my patient does not respond to recall?
A patient will be recalled three times by the central recall system. In the event that the patient does not book an appointment following the third recall letter, a letter to the GP is automatically generated.
What if I have other questions that are not answered by information on this website?
Please contact the screening office on 01202 442637 and leave a message or email: eyescreening.queries@poole.nhs.uk and a member of the project team will contact you.
If I routinely send letters to remind my patients to have their eyes screened, do I need to continue doing this?
Please continue to remind your patients in the usual way until the central recall system is fully operational. We will let you know when this happens.
Do my patients need a pin number in order to be screened digitally?
Until the recall system is fully operational, no pin numbers will be issued or required.