Colchester
Wet MD emergency number: 01206 744623
Wet MD fax: 01206 744707
Eye Emergency clinic on 01206 744672 0r 744610 –
Can also be referred through the main A&E, especially when out of hours ophthalmic emergency service is closed.
Fax number 01206 744671. Please ring the emergency contact number first and then you can fax a letter if necessary.
Broomfield
Main switchboard 01245 362000.
‘Beep the Staff Nurse in the Ophthalmology Department’
Give information regarding patient’s condition to Staff Nurse who then decides if she needs to interrupt the Ophthalmologist or if she can make the decision when to see patient. Usually patient given appointment time and asked to attend ASAP or later that day.
Optometrist writes referral letter with details and then faxes to HES 01245 516477 and gives copy to Patient to take with them in case ‘faxed details’ are mislaid/not collected from fax machine etc.
Copy of letter sent to patient’s GP.
Southend
Eye Department – 01702 435555 Ext 2460
For anyone who should be seen urgently, Main switchboard on 01702 435555 and ask for the mobile number of the on call Ophthalmologist and ask for their advice when a patient should be seen. They triage by phone and give an appointment. Give patient a copy of the referral letter.
For suspect wet AMD, we have a fax line to send letters to for the eye department to triage. 01702 385877.
Routine referrals can also be made via email to BMISouthend-NHSreferrals@bmihealthcare.co.uk. If you wish to ensure delivery you can request a read receipt. This is for NHS referrals only and MUST originate from a secure email address in the first place (to maintain confidentiality at both ends).
Queens
Queens (0845 130 4204) and asked for the eye clinic.
Wet AMD fast track referral to Queens, we fax a special form directly to the AMD clinic and follow it up with a phone call to confirm receipt. They usually contact the patient within a week. Co-ordinator is Harjit Seehra, tel 01708-435059. Fax 01708-435511.
Princess Alexandra Harlow
Emergency Ophthalmology fax number: 01279 827521.
Emergency referrals (ie need to be seen either same day or within 2-3 days) are sent direct to A&E with a covering letter (patients have to attend main A&E reception and are then directed round to the eye unit). Clinic open 9-5 Mon-Fri. Outside of these hours send patients to Moorfields A&E with a letter explaining the symptoms.
Suspected wet AMD goes direct to the PAH AMD clinic (run by Praveen Patel) which has a dedicated fax number. Patients are then usually seen within 2 weeks. Harlow wet AMD clinic is 01279 827118
