News and events

As of 1 April Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT), as the new lead provider, has launched the new Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) across the whole of Hertfordshire and West Essex.

HCT previously ran the DESP for West Herts; East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (ENHT) ran the DESP for East and North Herts; and InHealth ran the DESP in West Essex. Now HCT is the new lead provider for the whole geography and will work with ENHT who will provide clinical leadership and deliver screening at a number of locations. This will enable us to deliver a single, efficient, effective, and standardised service across the whole of HWE.

An event to launch the new programme was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with our partners to bring people together and ensure the HWE DESP works as one service and as one team across all areas and organisations.

Our Chief Executive Elliot Howard-Jones welcomed everyone, and our commissioners NHS England presented their hopes and expectations of the service going forward, such as utilising digital innovations and increasing reach to those who are vulnerable and underserved.

The new service will aim to consolidate best practice from every organisation involved, continuing our drive to deliver and foster excellent community healthcare through joined-up local care, creating a great place to work for all HWE DESP colleagues in ENHT and HCT and achieving best value through innovation.