The GOS sight test may not be used to fund diabetic retinopathy screening. The AOP sight test guidance makes it clear that routine screening, post diagnosis, is outside the scope of GOS. Assuming that the patient is participating in the formal screening arrangements in your area, then to repeat dilation purely to check again for retinopathy would be regarded as unnecessary, uncomfortable and inconvenient for the patient. You owe the patient a duty of care and you should enquire whether they have been screened within the national screening programme, within the previous 12 months. If the patient has not been screened within the last 12 months, you should inform the patient and their GP that the patient needs to be registered in the national screening programme and note this advice on the patient's record. Whilst you could offer to undertake a diabet eye check privately, should the patient request such a service, you should bear in mind the following points:
It would be sensible for the LOC to notify both the local Primary Care Organisation and the Local Medical Committee of the policy of the profession in your area e.g. until a formal screening scheme is established, you are quite entitled to charge the patient for retinopathy eye checks as an additional service outside GOS.
AOP GUIDANCE FOR OPTOMETRISTS IN RELATION TO DIABETIC RETINOPATHY SCREENING
Click on the pdf file on the bottom of this page for guidance on screening for diabetic retinopathy, including undertaking private diabetic eye checks. This guidance deals with the option of offering a private diabetic eye check to patients who do not wish to remain in the national programme, for whatever reason. The guidance points out that the word ‘screening’ ought not be used to describe this private service, since ‘screening’ now implies a process that is quality assured to specific standards.
