Can collaborative working improve diabetic retinal screening rates in individuals also diagnosed with a severe mental illness?

Aim: We aimed to create a collaborative data sharing project between two NHS trusts to improve attendance and access to diabetic retinopathy screening in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI).

Methods: The eligible patient lists were analysed before and after interventions to assess their effectiveness over two data runs.

Results: Screening attendance rates increased by 31% and 25% in the data runs; a significant number of patients (15%) who were screened required onward referral to hospital eye services.