News and events

From 1 April 2024 Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) will be the ‘Lead Provider’ for the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) across Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE).

This is an exciting opportunity for the Hertfordshire and West Essex system. HCT already runs the DESP  for West Hertfordshire and we will be working with East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust (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.

Elliot Howard-Jones, Chief Executive at HCT said: “We are delighted to be announced as the new lead provider of DESP across Hertfordshire and West Essex. Through the opportunity to bring all these services together we can co-design our future screening programme working with patients, staff and other partners and services.

“This will help to further improve outcomes and experiences for patients, contribute to reducing health inequalities and ensure high levels of staff engagement, development, and satisfaction.

“We are working with our partners to ensure there is a smooth transition for all concerned.”

HCT is working closely with ENHT, with the current provider of the west Essex service, InHealth, and with the commissioning body NHS England during the transition. Patients do not need to do anything differently as they will be contacted as normal for their regular screening appointments.

There will be one telephone contact number 01442 285 854 and a generic email address – hct.hwedesp@nhs.uk from 1 April 2024. 

For further information, please contact the service using the details as above.