Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Diabetic Eye Screening Programme

23/07/2025

👶🩺 Pregnant patients living with diabetes will be offered eye screening appointments more regularly than other patients: once at or shortly after their first antenatal visit, and again after 28 weeks. This is because pregnancy is linked with a higher risk of retinopathy in patients with diabetes. If early signs of retinopathy are spotted at the first appointment, another check between 16–20 weeks will also be arranged. Patients will be referred to clinical eye specialists for further treatment if significant retinopathy is found at any point during these appointments. 👁️💡💙
Get in touch with the Screening Programme to book your next appointment or to find out more:
📧enquiries.bsbcdesp@nhs.net
☎️0121 661 2220
For more information see also:
🔗https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/screening-tests-for-you-and-your-baby/diabetic-eye-screening

18/07/2025

👁️💙 Want to learn more about diabetic eye screening and how it protects your vision?
📘 Check out this FREE digital guide for patients in Birmingham, Solihull, and the Black Country which is packed with information on diabetic retinopathy, tips for preparing for an appointment, grading classifications, care pathways, local screening venues, key contacts & more! 🧑‍⚕️👓
🔗https://www.inhealthgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2124-IH-BSBC-DESP-information-guide.pdf

15/07/2025

☀️🎒🚶‍♀️🏞️Planning a fun day out this summer? This brilliant guide from Smallhousebigtrips is packed with free or low-cost ideas for our followers in the Birmingham, Solihull, and Black Country area.
🍎🥪🧃Whether you fancy a park picnic, museum visit, or family adventure — this online guide makes it simple to find local & budget-friendly summer activities. 🕶️📅
🔗 https://smallhousebigtrips.co.uk

10/07/2025

📢 Diabetic Eye Screening is still available – even if you're not registered with a GP.
If you’re at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Birmingham, Solihull, or the Black Country, you can still access NHS services, including Diabetic Eye Screening.

🏥 In Birmingham & Solihull, you can register for healthcare through the Health Exchange Primary Care Team:
📍 Attwood Green Medical Centre, 30 Bath Row, B15 1LZ
📞 0121 301 3900
🔗 https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk

Need more support? These organisations can help:
✔ Birmingham City Council Housing
✔ Solihull Community Housing
✔ Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
✔ St Basils
✔ Shelter
✔ Crisis
✔ StreetLink
✔ Women's Aid
✔ YMCA
You're not alone – help is available. 💙

07/07/2025

👁️ Diabetic Eye Screening Timeline: From Booking to Results 📬
1. Patients will receive a letter in the post when they are due a diabetic eye screening appointment with details of their upcoming appointment. Patients can also book or re-arrange appointments themselves by contacting our Bookings Team (T: 0121 661 2220, E: enquiries.bsbcdesp@nhs.net) or by using the Patient Portal: https://portal.bsbcdesp.co.uk/login.html
2. The patient attends their appointment (approximately 30 minutes in length), and digital images of the retinas are captured by a trained Screener after eye drops are applied. Please remember not to drive after the screening is completed and to arrange alternative transport if necessary.
3. The screening images are then graded by a team of trained professionals.
4. Results letters are then sent out in the post to patients, or patients can opt to go paper-free and download their results directly from the Patient Portal. The patient's GP will also be informed of the results. If any signs of retinopathy are found or if the images captured were not of sufficient quality due to e.g. other eye conditions, patients will be contacted with further information about any follow-up action required.

26/06/2025

💻🖱️🌐Sending out diabetic eye screening letters costs the NHS millions of pounds a year. Go paperless today! Sign up to the Diabetic Eye Screening Patient Portal using an email address to download your eye screening results letters digitally: https://portal.bsbcdesp.co.uk

19/06/2025

The Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Diabetic Eye Screening Programme wishes our followers a happy Pride Month 2025. In our workplace, we're committed to creating an environment where everybody feels valued and included- including the LGBTQ+ community.🌈

12/06/2025

06/06/2025

Yesterday, InHealth Group Diabetic Eye Screening Programme colleagues from across the country gathered in Birmingham for the annual conference. The conference featured a variety of speakers covering key updates in the world of retinal screening- including presentations from our very own BSBC DESP Team Leader Nav and Senior Grader Adele, as well as a talk from previous Deputy Programme Manager and new Regional Manager Jo. After the conference much fun was had with drinks, dinner, dancing to a live band, and karaoke! Thanks to all staff who attended and special thanks to the event organizers for a wonderful day. 🫶🥰

30/05/2025

👓👀👁️In addition to capturing digital photographs of the retinas, a diabetic eye screening appointment also involves sight testing. During these checks, a patient is asked to attempt to read letters from a chart at a distance. If you wear prescription glasses, please bring them along with you to your appointment to assist the Screener with this testing.

21/05/2025

Today we welcome colleagues from Arden, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (AHW DESP) to the Birmingham, Solihull, and Black Country DESP head office in Tyseley, Birmingham. The AHW Team will be using the office conference room to host their regular multidisciplinary team meeting which will update staff on the latest developments in diabetic eye screening. The neighbouring BSBC and AHW Programmes have been collaborating in numerous ways to deliver optimised services to patients, including: venue and equipment sharing, co-ordination over patient transfer of care queries, health equity knowledge sharing, patient administrative oversight, staff training and other areas.