Emergency Referrals
It is very important to call the relevant hospital department and follow the correct process. You should contact your local eye A&E department in the first instance.
Only consider other options (such as Moorfields) if your local eye A&E department is not operating at the time of the emergency, or if the local hospital advises treatment needs to take place elsewhere. Even in these circumstances, you should call the eye department before sending patients there to explain the circumstances clearly.
The numbers below are for Optometrists to contact- please do not give numbers to patients.
Queens Eye Department
Operating hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Please call eye department if you believe a patient should be seen same day on:
01708 435000 Ext 3550/3551
They will then advise you on the next steps.
If it is an urgent referral that needs to be seen relatively soon, but non-immediate you can email:
You should fill out the urgent referral form and attach any relevant photos, fields, OCT etc. Your practice should have this. If not, please email the above email address to obtain a copy.
Whipps Cross Eye department
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm.
SAME DAY / EMERGENCY ACCESS cases are NOT to be referred via the urgent email. You must give a letter for the patient to present on the day at the Whipps Cross eye casualty department.
Think about patients location. Geographically the patient may be re-directed to BHRUT (Queens) or MEH Moorfields City Rd if this is more appropriate to their address.
1-4 weeks review is considered URGENT (not same day) and for this you can send an email to the urgent email address:
Bartshealth.whippsurgenteye@nhs.net
These emails will be triaged by the team at Whipps Cross.
The contact number for the Whipps Cross Emergency Eye Service is:
0208 539 5522 extension 6940/6500/6777
Outside of the above hours there may be no onsite Ophthalmologist, but the out-of-hours on call non-resident Ophthalmologist can be contacted for emergency advice and referrals via the switchboard.