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Eye screening

I

Icebat

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all.

I was diagnosed type 1 just over two weeks ago. It was all a bit chaotic at the time (I've seen three different GPs, been sent to hospital and seen several people there too), so it's taken a while to get everything in order, like prescriptions. But one thing I still don't know what's going on with is the free eye screening.

When I went to the diabetes centre at the hospital (this was three days after my diagnosis), they were going to give me an eye screening but then said they couldn't as I wasn't registered for it yet. They gave me a leaflet with phone number on which I could call to register - except when I phoned it, it turned out I couldn't register there, it was just a phone number to arrange screenings. They said I needed to talk to my GP. Last week I had a GP appointment, mainly to arrange prescriptions, and I mentioned eye screening to the doctor; he sort of made it sound like he'd sort it out, but not in a way that gave me that much confidence, it was a bit vague.

It's been a week now and I haven't heard anything. Is that normal? How long does it usually take?

On a similar note, how long do the free prescription applications normally take to process? I handed that in at reception two weeks ago and again haven't heard anything.

Thanks for any info!
 
My eye screening appointment came through around 8 weeks after diagnosis, so I'd hang on a bit before chasing that.

Are you keeping the receipts for your prescription charges? You'll get the money back when your exemption certificate comes through. That did take a while - maybe a month or so.

Hope it's all going well - lots to take in!
 
Ah, that's all reassuring, thanks! I thought that could be the case, but I was just worried that somehow things had been lost/forgotten amidst all the confusion (oh yeah, apparently the hospital hadn't bothered to send any information back to the GPs either, it all seems a bit messy). I'll take your advice and wait a while before chasing.

Oh and yes, I've kept receipts! I did ask about future refunds at the GPs, but the receptionist didn't know anything about it, so I don't know how exactly one goes about it. Not that it adds up to much, since the biggest one was emailed across by a doctor at the hospital and I wasn't asked for any money when I collected it.

It's been a weird few weeks for sure. But the actual business of injecting and testing is going fine really, which I guess is the most important part; it's just dealing with all the different people and never really knowing what's going on that's stressed me out.
 
I had diabetes for years and awaiting my 3rd eye screening. Come on NHS. What if something was up in my eyes?
 
22nw22 said:
I had diabetes for years and awaiting my 3rd eye screening. Come on NHS. What if something was up in my eyes?
Click to expand...
Do you attend a diabetic clinic? Normally they organise the screenings. I would expect you to get at least one a year.... Speak to to your clinic. And if you're just seeing a GP, ask about screenings. They are very important because there is treatment that can be done to keep your eyesight if you get significant retinopathy ....
 
As soon as you are diagnosed your GP should refer you to your local screening programme for diabetic eye screening. Once the programme receives your referral, they should screen you within 3 months. If this doesn't happen, chase it up with your GP.
 
Hi,
Try not to worry........................................................................ I did but I do like to be positive sooooooooooooooo.
The time frame for me to a have an eye test was the same as @Circuspony , 8 weeks or a tadge more
 
It's my GP practice that arranges my eye screening, even though I attend the clinic at my nearest general hospital.
 
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