Reviewed on : 2 Dec 2022

Reviewed by : Kaushik Shah Head of Optometry Line Manager for Ophthalmic Imaging Service Development Lead for Eye Casualty UHCW

Expires : 2 Dec 2024

Eye Casualty and Ophthalmology Referrals (July 2021)

Please be advised of changes in the structure of Eye Casualty and the Outpatient clinics at University Hospital.

Eye Casualty

Eye Emergency Referral Service (EERS) Swift Queue from 23 July 2021

Referrers and/or patients can access the website via QR code to book a slot for telephone triage of an eye complaint to access the service. This does not replace the phone line which will now be open Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00 but will improve access to the service and improve response times. 

This is in response to patient feedback regarding access to eye casualty tel: 02476 964800 

For urgent clinician to clinician advice please use telephone number: 02476 966333

See link on right for printable version

Consultant Connect

GPs can now share images for advice & guidance using Consultant Connect

Ophthalmology Photo Advice & Guidance Service has been launched and supported by UHCW Monday-Friday 9am-7pm.

Download the free Consultant Connect App from the App Store or Google Play.

Select the PhotoSAF (camera icon) feature at the bottom of the screen to take photos via your phone.

Alternatively upload photos from your desktop via the Consultant Connect dashboard and use these to access Photo Advice & Guidance.

The service is IG secure and you can follow the simple onscreen instructions to take photos and send them directly to consultants. You will receive a notification when the consultant replies to your query.

Please note that photos are stored in a secure online cloud and are never saved to your phone. Your photos will also be automatically sent to your NHS email address. To find out more about Photo Advice & Guidance for Ophthalmology, read this guide below (click on image for full size version)

Referrals

DO NOT SEND patients to Eye Casualty without phoning in advance (see link right for Primary Care only contact details) or using a NHS.net email address to send completed referral forms (see attached) to: uhcw.eyecasualty@nhs.net

Direct access patient advice

For hours of opening see below – for all out of hours please follow the A&E pathways.

Urgent Ophthalmology Guidance

Urgent Referral Guidance

Click on each image below for further information

Diagnoses NOT to miss

• Flashes, floaters, visual field defect – Think RETINAL DETACHMENT
• Pain, vomiting, decreased vision, cloudy cornea and oval poorly-reactive pupil – Think ACUTE ANGLE CLOSURE GLAUCOMA
• Any sudden loss of vision without rapid recovery – Think DISCUSSION WITH OPHTHALMOLOGY
• Headache, droopy lid, diplopia (on lifting droopy lid) – Think 3^rdNERVE PALSY
• Headache, diplopia, disc swelling – Think RAISED ICP (causing 6^thNerve Palsy)
• Acute onset central visual distortion in an elderly person – Think WET AMD
• Swollen red lids & eye (esp if reduced & painful eye movements) in systemically unwell patient – Think ORBITAL CELLULITIS

Ophthalmology clinic appointments

The majority of Eye Clinic regular appointments will be cancelled, postponed or converted to virtual clinics with non face-to-face consultations.

GP letters will not be issued unless there is a change of outcome or treatment.

These changes are being made in line with national guidance and will be kept under continuous review.