A CHARITY has warned that thousands of people with diabetes in the region are at increased risk of losing their sight because they have not been screened for retinopathy.

Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the UK’s working-age population.

The early signs of this condition can be picked up by using a digital camera. But many diabetics in the region are missing out on screening.

According to the charity, the worst place in the country when it comes to screening for retinopathy using a digital camera is North Yorkshire, where only 20.9 per cent of diabetics were screened between January and December last year. But NHS officials from North Yorkshire said the real total was much higher, and the low figure was due to difficulties in reporting.

In the North-East, 80 per cent of people with diabetes were screened for retinopathy by a digital camera during the same period.

The latest Department of Health figures show that nationally, 20 per cent of people with diabetes aged 12 and over did not receive retinal screening in the period January to December last year. Two thirds (100 out of 152) of primary care trusts (PCTs) are failing to meet the target of screening 80 per cent of people with diabetes using a digital camera.

This Government target was set in 2003 for PCTs to attain by December 2007.

Retinal screening is used to spot signs of retinopathy, a diabetic complication that occurs when blood vessels in the retina of the eye become blocked, leaky or grow haphazardly. If left untreated, it can damage vision and ultimately lead to blindness.

Dr Bruce Willoughby, consultant in public health medicine from NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “During March 2008, 94 per cent of people with diabetes registered with GP practices across NHS North Yorkshire and York and had a record of retinal screening in the past 15 months.

“However, only returns from one of our four small locality based screening programmes could be officially counted last year due to changes in the reporting system to the Department of Health, and changes in the acceptable size of screening programmes by the National Screening Committee. This explains the 20 per cent figure.

“Following a further £1m investment last year, a new retinal screening service was commissioned and we are now able to provide fully compliant screening coverage across the entire area.”