West Essex

Emergency Referrals – (link at the top HES details page) information about emergency referrals only, but to multiple eye departments.
27/1/21 – PAH have introduced a specific Eye Casualty Referral Form, with details of the request – here.

Essex Referrals Pathway PAH – document showing correct referral methods for PAH.
Referral details covering Hertfordshire LOC region.

Independent Sector Providers (ISPs)
There are numerous ISP’s across Essex. Details of all are gradually being updated here

Emergency Referral
There is an unofficial WhatsApp group lead by Ms Madi, the Eye Casualty Consultant, where she can give advice on referrals.  To join please email clinical.lead@essex-loc.org.  Remember any messages should not contain patient identifiable details.

WET AMD Rapid Access Referral form for Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Out of Area Referrals
If you have a patient with a GP in a specific CCG but they want to be seen in a hospital within a different CCG, can you ensure you refer via the patients GP. This also applies to patients who want to be seen at a hospital out of Essex.

Overdue Patient?
If you have a patient who is overdue their follow up appointment, ask the patient to contact the booking team at the hospital or use PALS to chase their appointment. 01279 827211 or email paht.pals@nhs.net.

NHS Prescribing Guidelines in HWE
As per National guidance, over the counter (OTC) medications should NOT be routinely requested to be prescribed by a patient’s GP because:
  • there is limited evidence of clinical effectiveness for the item
  • the item would be prescribed for a condition that is self-limiting and will clear up on its own without the need for treatment
  • the item would be prescribed for a condition that is appropriate for self-care.
This does include requests for dry eye treatments, self limiting conjunctivitis and antioxidants for dry AMD.
More details of prescribing guidelines in HWE can be found here: Ophthalmology

Cataract Service Policy for HWE – Cataract-Surgery-v1.0-July-2022-new-template
Corneal referral criteria & proceedure details – Cornea Procedures

A list of clinicians and their specialities at Princess Alexandra Hospital:
Clinicians and Specialties