NHS Scotland rolls out nationwide diabetic retinopathy screening service
23 August 2007 NHS Scotland has completed the roll-out of a
country-wide diabetic retinopathy screening service to help prevent the
large number of cases of blindness caused by diabetes. Diabetic
retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness of people of working age and
creates a significant workload for the health service. Scotland had an
estimated 150,000 diabetics in 2006 and the figure is likely to double by
2015. With appropriate ophthalmological intervention it has been estimated
that blindness may be prevented in up to 70% of such cases.
The Scottish Diabetes Framework, published in April 2002, set out a
10-year programme to address the problem of diabetes and eye care was
targeted as one of the key issues. NHS Scotland chose diabetic retinopathy
screening as a key new service. This involved setting up a new
administrative framework, a quality programme, staff training and defining
processes that can be consistently applied to all geographical areas
irrespective of resource levels. A pilot project was launched in Lothian in
2005 and national rollout began in 2006 NHS Scotland worked with Siemens
Medical Solutions to supply the software to manage the screening service.
The Siemens software application, Soarian Integrated Care, is used to manage
and support the service across the country. Implemented as a web based
application with a three-tier architecture (graphical user interface,
application server, database server), it can be operated via a web browser.
Deirdre Evans, Director National Services Division, NHS National Services
Scotland said: “NHS Scotland chose Siemens because it has demonstrated a
commitment to delivering an IT solution that met the healthcare needs
identified and had already implemented an effective working solution in
Europe.” Paul Burdett, NHS IT Manager at Siemens Medical Solutions said:
“We were delighted to be chosen as partners in this project and it is great
to see it coming to fruition. We believe that this is the largest and most
advanced example of ehealth projects of its kind anywhere and is an
excellent example of a preventative healthcare service delivered on a
national basis.” To top
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