Referral Guidelines | worcestershire loc

Worcestershire Referral Guidelines

This guide is primarily aimed at optometrists working as contractors or performers in the Worcestershire area of Herefordshire & Worcestershire CCG who are referring patients who are registered with a GP practice in Worcestershire area of Herefordshire & Worcestershire CCG. Where a patient is not registered with a Worcestershire GP, please direct the referral to the patient’s GP practice.

Please note that for “out of hours” urgent referrals patients will be directed to BMEC.

The text has been extensively revised and updated, to improve clarity and understanding, particularly in response to the changing referral criteria and referral methods introduced by the National Health Service, following the decision by the Secretary of State for Health to switch off all fax communication with NHS institutions from 1st April 2020. The proliferation of the COVID-19 disease has resulted in a temporary suspension of the MECS service and the introduction of the COVID-19 Urgent Eye-care Service – CUES. Those conditions that would normally be referred to MECS but require referral to CUES have been annotated.

PLEASE NOTE: We are in the process of re-launching a new referral guide in 2025.

Electronic Eye Care Referral System (EeRS)/ Cinapsis

Following the successful launch of EeRS/Cinapsis into Worcestershire county, we are now in a position to give you a progress update.

EeRS/Cinapsis must be used for all referrals into Secondary care from 31st January 2025. There is a risk that any referrals sent into Secondary care via NHS.net email addresses may not be accepted and your referral could be rejected, causing delay to your referral and to the care of your patient.

If you are yet to sign up for EeRS or have yet to use Cinapsis software and require support, please contact the LOC for support..

If you wish to refer to Black Country, Birmingham, Solihull, Dudley, Shropshire or Warwickshire we can now request your practice has the ability to refer into those areas, as per px choice. Please advise Steve or Harps by 31st January 2025 if your practice wishes for this to be actioned.

Worcestershire Guide to Direction of Referrals

Jim Osborne 2020 (Evesham)

EeRS

Routine Referrals

The Worcestershire Community Ophthalmology Services contract commissioned by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and provided by Community Health and Eyecare (CHEC) will end on 31st March 2025.

The consultant led services provided are not restricted to one provider and patients can now exercise their right to patient choice. Those patients currently under the care of CHEC will continue with their treatment provided by CHEC.

This will be particularly significant for Glaucoma and OHT referrals - all new (non-urgent) referrals can be sent to the patient's choice of CHEC, Newmedica or Spa Medica. Urgent Glaucoma referrals should be sent to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust.

For new referrals, these should be submitted using the Electronic Eyecare Referral System (EeRS) rolled out in 2025 to all Worcestershire Optometrists by selecting the provider offering further investigation or treatment for the eye condition.

Please note: This service was only provided by CHEC until Spring 2025.

Wet ARMD Referral Pathway

For suspect Wet ARMD referrals, please complete this form and send to the appropriate hospital email address.

Note: the old 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form' has now been updated in 2021, please find below the new 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form'.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital: wah-tr.worcestershirehes@nhs.net Gloucestershire Acute Hospitals: ghn-tr.AMDteam@nhs.net

Worcestershire Wet ARMD Referral Form

Emergency Referrals

For all emergency referrals directed to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust please refer via NHS email.

Referrals to BMEC (via Cinapsis) should only to be used:

For urgent/emergency referrals when Kidderminster is closed (weekdays after 4pm; weekends; bank holidays)
Or if Kidderminster have advised you to refer the patient to BMEC
Or if the patient is unable to attend Kidderminster during their clinic hours (Monday- Friday 09:00-16:00)

Worcestershire LOC

Worcestershire Referral Guidelines

Worcestershire Guide to Direction of Referrals

Jim Osborne 2020 (Evesham)

Routine Referrals

Wet ARMD Referral Pathway

For suspect Wet ARMD referrals, please complete this form and send to the appropriate hospital email address.

Note: the old 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form' has now been updated in 2021, please find below the new 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form'.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital: wah-tr.worcestershirehes@nhs.net Gloucestershire Acute Hospitals: ghn-tr.AMDteam@nhs.net

Worcestershire Wet ARMD Referral Form

Emergency Referrals

For all emergency referrals directed to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust please refer via NHS email.

Referrals to BMEC (via Cinapsis) should only to be used:

For urgent/emergency referrals when Kidderminster is closed (weekdays after 4pm; weekends; bank holidays)

Or if Kidderminster have advised you to refer the patient to BMEC

Or if the patient is unable to attend Kidderminster during their clinic hours (Monday- Friday 09:00-16:00)

The referral form for BMEC within Cinapsis is set up to guide you through the correct referral process including the appropriate urgency of referral.

Worcestershire Referral Guidelines

Worcestershire Guide to Direction of Referrals

Jim Osborne 2020 (Evesham)

Routine Referrals

​

Wet ARMD Referral Pathway

For suspect Wet ARMD referrals, please complete this form and send to the appropriate hospital email address. ​ Note: the old 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form' has now been updated in 2021, please find below the new 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form'. ​

Worcestershire Royal Hospital: wah-tr.worcestershirehes@nhs.net Gloucestershire Acute Hospitals: ghn-tr.AMDteam@nhs.net

Worcestershire Wet ARMD Referral Form

Emergency Referrals

For all emergency referrals directed to the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust please refer via NHS email.

Referrals to BMEC (via Cinapsis) should only to be used:

​

For urgent/emergency referrals when Kidderminster is closed (weekdays after 4pm; weekends; bank holidays)

Or if Kidderminster have advised you to refer the patient to BMEC

Or if the patient is unable to attend Kidderminster during their clinic hours (Monday- Friday 09:00-16:00)

​

The referral form for BMEC within Cinapsis is set up to guide you through the correct referral process including the appropriate urgency of referral.

​​

For suspect Wet ARMD referrals, please complete this form and send to the appropriate hospital email address.

Note: the old 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form' has now been updated in 2021, please find below the new 'Worcestershire Wet ARMD referral form'.