Mid / South Essex

Essex Referrals Pathway Broomfield – document showing correct referral methods for Broomfield hospital.
Essex Referrals Pathway Southend – document showing correct referral methods for Southend hospital.
Emergency Referrals – (link at the top HES details page) information about emergency referrals only, but to multiple eye departments.

Out of Area Referrals
If you have a patient with a GP in a specific ICB but they want to be seen in a hospital within a different ICB, can you ensure you refer via the patients GP. This especially applies to any patient who has a GP in Mid or South Essex who wants to be seen at another hospital other than Southend, Broomfield, BMI or Springfield. This also applies to patients who want to be seen at a hospital out of Essex.

Specific 2 week cancer referral form for Southend Hospital.

The following documents are the restriction policies issued by Mid Essex.
For cataract referrals:
The “completed proforma” is simply the referral form.
Please state on the referral that the patient wishes to have the operation.
The “Decision Making Leaflet” only needs to be issued to a patient who is unsure whether they would like cataract surgery.
“Using the patient’s own words” can be as simple as “the patient reports difficulty driving at night” or “the patient reports they can no longer read their books” etc.

South CCGs Cataract Service Restriction policy

ALTERNATIVE REFERRAL ROUTES
Ophthalmology activity can be referred to BMI Hospital or Southend. This alternative provision has been put in place at the request of Southend hospital who have asked the CCG for help in diverting up to 25% of all referrals and associated follow up activity away from Southend hospital.

Both BMI is commissioned to provide Consultant led NHS Ophthalmology services and can see all general ophthalmic activity. They will accept referrals for general ophthalmic conditions (anything you would usually send to Southend or Orsett hospital) with the following exclusions:

  • Any emergency condition should be referred as usual to the Southend Hospital Eye Service
  • Patients with potential cancer of the eye
  • Patients with a squint
  • Patients with a potential neurological condition
  • Patients with a potential macular condition
  • A patient with incapacitating disease that is a constant threat to life
  • A patient who has an unstable mental condition and is receiving psychiatric treatment
  • A patient who is grossly obese with a BMI>40
  • Patients under 18 years of age

Spa Medica are undertaking NHS Cataract Operations at the old Chelmsford Hospital Site (Fenton House, 85-89 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 0PP), which is now open for Cataract and YAG laser surgery treatment.  If your patients would like an assessment at Spa Medica for their NHS surgery, please see the cataract section of the referral pathway for Broomfield.

Please see their exclusion criteria to review before any referrals are made.

SOUTHEND PRESCRIBING GUIDELINES FOR DRY EYE SYNDROME
Southend and Castle Point and Rochford CCGs have agreed a new protocol for the prescribing of drops for dry eye syndrome. Where possible patients who have a GP in either of these CCGs should be asked to self-fund their drops if they are able. For those patients who require their medications funded by the NHS the following should be followed:
Any drops that are needed to be prescribed by the GP should not be requested by the brand name, they should be requested by the active ingredient. Eg Sodium Hyaluronate, not Hycosan; Paraffin based eye ointment, not lacrilube etc. This will allow the GP to prescribe the correct eye drop from their agreed formulary. Brand specific drops will need to be self funded.

For more details please view Dry Eye Prescribing Guidelines
Primary Care Prescribing Guidelines for the Management of Dry Eyes

ORTHOPTIC REFERRALS
Ophthalmology and orthoptic services delivered by mid Essex hospital services NHS trust