Provision of Mobile Screening Unit for Diabetic Eye Screening Wales (DESW)

Diabetic Eye Screening Wales (DESW) is an All-Wales screening programme within Public Health Wales Screening Division and provides regular screening to approximately 190,000 eligible participants from the age of 12 who are diagnosed with diabetes and registered with a GP in Wales. Screening is provided for the remainder of life following diagnosis and referral into the Programme.

The programmes’ objective is to detect diabetic retinopathy in the early stages to prevent sight loss. Research evidence shows that with early identification and treatment, loss of vision can be prevented in 70-90% of people with sight threatening diabetic retinopathy.

The Programme operates across three regions; South, West and North Wales and delivers locality-based screening from a number of PHW managed static venues and community clinic venues in local areas provided by Health Boards and the private sector. Suitable screening venues are essential to support continued identification of retinopathy at an early stage and support appropriate referral to hospital eye services for affected participants who are eligible for diabetic eye screening.

There continues to be a lack of suitable venues in certain areas and sourcing appropriate venues remains challenging. To address this issue, DESW is seeking a hire agreement for two mobile screening units that will be utilised for a combined 7 days per week.

These units must meet the criteria for a suitable clinic space and provide both flexibility and capacity to support DESW in siting units in those areas where no suitable venue is available. Further details of the requirement are provided within the specification document.