Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Diabetic Eye Screening Programme

16/10/2025

💜BSBC DESP Staff Supporting Birmingham Refuge Charity💜
A big thank you to all staff who recently donated prams, nappies, and other baby essentials to support families at Birmingham Refuge, a charity helping women and children rebuild after domestic abuse. Your generosity is appreciated.
🔗

Empowering women to live without violence & fear. Refuge is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the UK. Supporting thousands of women & their children overcome the physical, emotional, financial impacts of abuse.

08/10/2025

🎉 Well done to our fantastic BSBC DESP team! 🎉
Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Diabetic Eye Screening Programme staff have been praised again in recent feedback from patients. Well done to all who were mentioned. Your dedication, compassion, and professionalism truly make a difference. 👏

03/10/2025

🎉 New Diabetic Eye Screening Clinics! 👁️‍🗨️🏥
We’re excited to share the news that Diabetic Eye Screening appointments will now be available at two brand-new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in the region! 🙌
📍 South Birmingham CDC
📍 North Solihull CDC
These modern, spacious, and welcoming clinics are designed to make screening more accessible 🧭 and bring care closer to our communities 🏘️, which is all part of a wider NHS initiative to ease pressure on hospitals 🏨 and improve patient experience 💙.
✅ Better access
✅ Community-focused care
✅ Comfortable environments
👀💪

23/09/2025

🧿Free Diabetic Eye Screening for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community🧿
If you or a loved one has diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) and are aged 12 or over, you are entitled to a free annual eye screening with the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme.
👁️ Why it matters:
Diabetes can damage your eyes before you notice any changes. Screening helps catch problems early- before they affect your vision.
🕰️ Quick & Easy:
The test takes around 30 minutes and is done at a range of venues in the Birmingham, Solihull, and Black Country area.
💬 No need to worry – the team is friendly, respectful, and understands different ways of life. You’ll be treated with care and dignity.
Speak to our Team for more information or to book your next appointment:
📞0121 661 2220
📧 enquiries.bsbcdesp@nhs.net
🌐https://portal.bsbcdesp.co.uk/login.html

17/09/2025

👁️ Calling all community partners!
We’re looking to connect with local diabetes or health-related events across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.
If you’re organising or know of any upcoming events where the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme could take part- whether through a stall, presentation or outreach- we’d love to hear from you!
📩 Drop us an email: hil.engagementbsbcdesp@nhs.net
📞 Give us a call: 0121 387 5600

11/09/2025

💙 Living with diabetes can be emotionally challenging- and that’s okay to talk about. 🧠💭
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. 💬💚

🧠💙 Local Mental Health Support services in Birmingham, Solihull & Black Country
1. Oasis Mental Health Support (formerly Solihull Mind)
Offers counselling, crisis support, social activities, and practical help.
🔗 https://oasismentalhealthsupport.org.uk
2. Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT)
Provides inpatient, community, and specialist mental health services.
🔗 https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/our-services/
3. Black Country Mental Health
Local charity offering trauma-informed support, counselling, and wellbeing activities.
🔗 https://blackcountrymentalhealth.org.uk
4. Living Well UK
Free therapy and wellbeing services across Birmingham and Solihull.
🔗 https://livingwellconsortium.com
5. Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Community mental health services across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
🔗 https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/community-mental-health-services

🧠💙 Mental Health Support Charities in the UK
1. Samaritans – 24/7 support for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis
🔗 https://www.samaritans.org
2. Mind – Mental health information, local services, and advocacy
🔗 https://www.mind.org.uk
3. Rethink Mental Illness – Support for people severely affected by mental illness
🔗 https://www.rethink.org
4. Mental Health Foundation – Research and programmes tackling the root causes of mental health issues
🔗 https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk
5. CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Support for anyone struggling, especially with suicidal thoughts
🔗 https://www.thecalmzone.net
6. SHOUT – Free, confidential 24/7 text support service
🔗 https://giveusashout.org

Shout is the UK's first and only 24/7 text service for anyone struggling with their mental health. Text 'Shout' to 85258 for free, confidential support anytime, anywhere

28/08/2025

🚨 Diabetic Eye Screening: Why It Matters for people aged 20–40 years old🚨
A new NHS England report conducted by Solutions Research Facilitation Ltd has revealed why many young adults with diabetes skip vital eye checks.
👀 Key Barriers
• Life’s busy, work, family, stress.
• Fear, denial, and poor understanding of DES.
• Rigid booking systems and cold service experiences.
💡 What Needs to Change
• Friendly, flexible appointments.
• Clear, supportive communication.
• Social media campaigns that actually connect.
• GPs and DES teams working together.
✅ Let’s make DES easier, warmer, and more relevant, because catching problems early can save sight.
📞 Need help getting to your next screening?
Call us on 0121 387 5600, we’re here to make it simple, stress-free, and about you.

21/08/2025

👁️💻 Diabetic Eye Screening Matters – But What If You Can’t Get Online? 📵📅
We know how important diabetic eye screening is for protecting sight. But not everyone has easy access to the internet, smartphones, or email. 😔
📍 If someone you know is living with diabetes and struggling to book or manage appointments due to digital barriers, we’re here to help. Whether it’s booking by phone, getting reminders by post, or finding local support – we’ll work with patients to make screening more accessible for them.
📞 Speak to our Team for more assistance: 0121 661 2220

13/08/2025

👁️💙 Diabetic Eye Screening – Supporting Patients with Addictions
We know that living with addiction can make attending appointments more difficult. That’s why our team is here to offer compassionate, flexible support to help every patient access sight-saving screening.
📅 Missed an appointment? No problem.
📞 Need help rebooking? We’re here for you.
Contact us:
☎️ 0121 661 2220
📧 enquiries.bsbcdesp@nhs.net
🌐 bsbcdesp.co.uk
You are not alone. Support is available. In addition to speaking to your GP, some important local addiction services include:
🔗 https://www.bsmhft.nhs.uk/our-services/addictions-services/ - Birmingham and Solihull addiction services
🔗 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/ - NHS addiction support links
🔗 https://recovery.com/ – Top UK Rehab Centres
🔗 https://www.ukat.co.uk/ – Addiction Helpline & Clinics
Let’s keep care inclusive, stigma-free, and accessible to all. 💪

Addiction services provide a range of services to people with addictions that aim to prevent and treat substance misuse and improve community safety.

06/08/2025

📺 🎥✨ Diabetes UK has developed a dedicated series of YouTube playlists in South Asian languages to support non-English speaking communities living with diabetes. These videos explain why eye screening is so important — watch and share with your family and community. Available languages include:
🔸 Gujurati (જોર્જિયન): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQDlTVSOXD9EuSVvIqSOQfx_1JZVGex-a
🔸 Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQDlTVSOXD9EyF_fIIIfb7Di6aciFQOoS
🔸 Urdu (اردو): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQDlTVSOXD9EysX6a1cOjD44J6V5sel5X
🔸 Sylheti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wII4gnX3av0&list=PLQDlTVSOXD9E72XpbkHsWLtNDUiOUSYQ4

Watch and listen to our three short videos with Punjabi voiceover. What is diabetes? What is type 1 diabetes and What is type 2 diabetes. We also have a vide...

31/07/2025

👁️✨ Got your diabetic eye screening appointment coming up? Don’t forget: the eye drops used can blur your vision for up to 6 hours, so please do not drive following your appointment 🚗. We also ask patients to please bring any current prescription glasses, as well as sunglasses also if possible as the drops can increase light sensitivity🕶️.
📘👀 For more information, check out our free guide to diabetic eye screening for all the details! https://www.inhealthgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2124-IH-BSBC-DESP-information-guide.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawL4Mq9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBjWlJoWGFaQWN5ZmpYOVBFAR5MjlpslikWiAqrPKiACkNykuU8PYV5VpuE-N2qKzI8BDzHocUPhOBho9QVtg_aem_Lo9yw30kPM4qL0EZKlQv7g

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