Aims: To determine how the workload of an ophthalmology department changed fol lowing the introduction of an organised retinal screening programme. Methods: In formation was collected from the hospital medical record ...Aims: To determine how the workload of an ophthalmology department changed fol lowing the introduction of an organised retinal screening programme. Methods: In formation was collected from the hospital medical record of people with diabetes attending eye clinics over 4 years. The first year was before screening, the ne xt 2 years the first round, and the fourth year the second round. Results: The t otal number of people with diabetes referred each year over the 4 year period wa s 853, 954, 974, 1051 consecutively. The number of people with diabetes in the c ounty rose by 1400 per annum. The total number of referrals for an opinion about diabetic retinopathy was 227, 333, 363, 368, for cataract was 64, 57, 77, 93, a nd for glaucoma was 57, 62, 61, 68. The total number of patients referred for la ser treatment over the 4 years was 77, 124, 111, and 63 Conclusion: This study s uggests that the workload in the eye clinic increases in the first round of scre ening but in subsequent rounds it does not foil below the pre-screening level, except for laser treatment. This may be partly because of increasing numbers of people with diabetes. With the introduction of a national screening programme, t his has significant workload implications for the National Health Service.展开更多
文摘Aims: To determine how the workload of an ophthalmology department changed fol lowing the introduction of an organised retinal screening programme. Methods: In formation was collected from the hospital medical record of people with diabetes attending eye clinics over 4 years. The first year was before screening, the ne xt 2 years the first round, and the fourth year the second round. Results: The t otal number of people with diabetes referred each year over the 4 year period wa s 853, 954, 974, 1051 consecutively. The number of people with diabetes in the c ounty rose by 1400 per annum. The total number of referrals for an opinion about diabetic retinopathy was 227, 333, 363, 368, for cataract was 64, 57, 77, 93, a nd for glaucoma was 57, 62, 61, 68. The total number of patients referred for la ser treatment over the 4 years was 77, 124, 111, and 63 Conclusion: This study s uggests that the workload in the eye clinic increases in the first round of scre ening but in subsequent rounds it does not foil below the pre-screening level, except for laser treatment. This may be partly because of increasing numbers of people with diabetes. With the introduction of a national screening programme, t his has significant workload implications for the National Health Service.
