General referrals to Ophthalmology
All referrals except enhanced services [Cataract, Cues etc] should be made using the Eyecare Electronic Referral System [EeRS]
For emergency and urgent care [one week] please see separate page
For urgent referrals [to be seen within 8 weeks] please select the relevant hospital clinic
For routine referrals BSol GP please use the Single Point of Access [SPoA] or relevant provider for exempt conditions
For routine referrals all other GP patients please choose the relevant hospital clinic or provider
For BSol patients there is a Single Point of Access provided by Health Harmonie
Where a patient has indicated a specific Choice of provider you should indicate this on the referral, whether sending via SPoA for potential onward referral, or direct to the provider.
The following information is provided for when EeRS is not available and the Business Continuity Plan is implemented
Contact details for routine direct referrals to secondary care ophthalmology services in Birmingham.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Foundation Trust
Birmingham & Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) [clinic required]
City Hospital
Dudley Road
Birmingham B18 7QH
Also includes the eye department at Sandwell General Hospital – you must clearly state which hospital the patient wishes to be referred to but note that eye casualty is only available at BMEC
Ophthalmology Department (clinic required)
Sandwell General Hospital
Lewisham Street
Hallam
West Bromwich B71 4HJ
On your GOS 18 or other referral letter please state which hospital and which clinic you are referring to
e.g. To BMEC glaucoma clinic or To Sandwell Ophthalmology Medical Retina Clinic etc
Ophthalmology referrals:
ANY REFERRALS SENT BY EMAIL SHOULD BE MARKED AS “HIGH IMPORTANCE” AND A READ RECEIPT SHOULD BE REQUESTED.
Please complete your GOS18 or other referral letter, attach to nhs.net email and send to:
swbh.team-eyereferrals-routine@nhs.net
Fast Track wet AMD referrals
See “Urgent and emergency referrals” page.
Other referrals requiring urgent attention (within two weeks) can be attached to an nhs.net email and sent to:
swbh.team-eyereferrals-urgentcare@nhs.net
Cataract referrals with choice of provider
The preferred pathway for cataract referrals is via Primary Eyecare Services using their enhanced referral form and submitted via the Opera website. See below and ” Primary Eyecare Services” Page.
University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust
Includes Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Edgbaston, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital – Bordesley Green, Good Hope Hospital – Sutton Coldfield and Solihull Hospital – Solihull
General ophthalmology referrals:
For Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Complete your GOS18 or other referral letter, attach to an nhs.net email and email to: bookingcentre.newreferrals@uhb.nhs.uk
or, for Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals email to:
uhb-tr.appointments-centre@uhb.nhs.uk
NB all cataract surgery now carried out at Solihull or Good Hope Hospitals although initial assessment may be done at all three sites.
Birmingham Children’s Hospital
Referrals for children aged 16 or under
Complete your GOS18 or referral letter, attach to an nhs.net email and email to:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital – Edgbaston
QEH now has a relatively fast track cataract service for patients with uncomplicated cataract and no serious health problems . They suggest that their waiting time will be similar to the Independent Service Providers. You can refer patients into this service via the PES Opera website or direct by attaching your GOS18/referral letter to an nhs.net email and sending it to:
qehgreencataractreferrals@uhb.nhs.uk
CATARACT REFERRALS WITH CHOICE OF PROVIDER CAN BE SENT TO ANY OF THE NHS TRUSTS ABOVE OR TO A NUMBER OF PRIVATE PROVIDERS LISTED BELOW. MANY OF THESE NOW OFFER POST-OP ASSESSMENT BY THE REFERRING OPTOMETRIST FOR UNCOMPLICATED PATIENTS.
IF YOU ARE REGISTERED WITH PES CATARACTS CAN ALSO BE REFERRED VIA OPERA IN MANY AREAS, PLEASE CHECK WITH PRIMARY EYECARE SERVICES LTD OR BY ACCESSING THE CATARACT REFERRAL SERVICE ON THE OPERA WEBSITE.
Midland Eye Institute – Solihull
Staffed by many of the consultant ophthalmologists working at UHB Foundation Trust
Able to offer NHS Direct Cataract with choice of provider and YAG laser capsulotomy via the NHS
Send referrals via the PES Opera website or attach your GOS18/referral letter to an nhs.net email and send to:
Optegra Birmingham Eye Hospital – on the Aston University Site
Staffed by visiting consultant ophthalmologists, many of which also work at BMEC or UHB
Able to offer NHS Direct Cataract with choice of provider and YAG laser capsulotomy via the NHS
Refer via the PES Opera website
or attach your GOS18/referral letter to an nhs.net email and send to: optegra.referrals.1@nhs.net
SpaMedica (Hospitals in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and Wolverhampton)
Offers NHS Cataract and YAG capsulotomy
Refer via the PES Opera web site or attach your GOS18/referral letter to an nhs.net email and send to:
ALSO OFFERS FAST TRACK WET AMD ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS OF GPs IN the BSol CCG AREA.
The Westbourne Centre – Edgbaston
Staffed by visiting consultant ophthalmologists many of which also work at BMEC or UHB.
Offers NHS Direct cataract with choice of provider but not YAG.
Send referrals via the PES Opera website
or by email to: Westbourne.admin@nhs.net
Queries to: Sian.Young@westbournecentre.com
Newmedica – Aston Cross
Offering direct NHS cataract, YAG capsulotomy and Wet AMD services
Refer via the PES Opera website or email to
Aces – Corporation Street Birmingham
Referrals for Cataract surgery can be made via the PES Opera website or by attaching a completed GOS18/referral to an nhs.net email sent to:
aceseyeclinicenquiries@nhs.net
PracticePlusGroup
Offering direct NHS cataract, YAG capsulotomy
Practiceplusgrp.birminghamreferrals@nhs.net
Focus Birmingham
For patients with low vision Focus Birmingham is able to provide many services from supply of low vision aids to home visits to assess the patients requirements and to train them in the use of their LVAs
Please see the Focus Birmingham website for further details www.focusbirmingham.org.uk