News

Local Sight Loss charity expands and re-brands

Vision and Hearing Support (formly Sight Service) leading sight loss charity in Gateshead and South Tyneside has expanded the support they offers and re-branded. Digital Support Peer support groups  Rehabilitation for visual impairment  Sensory support (Assessments of Needs for Adult Social Care) and equipment loan;  Vision Impairment -Gateshead/South Tyneside including Living with Sight Loss sessions. …

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6 July 2024

Glaucoma Enhanced Referral Service – GERS (North of Tyne)

May 2024 Please see below the pathway for glaucoma patients across Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Gateshead. Remember that patients who have a sight test at your practice and who are identified as having raised IOP and/or glaucomatous visual field loss with no other indication of glaucoma should be seen within GRR.  Patients who are …

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16 May 2024

Find all the info regarding commissioned (nhs-funded) services across NTW

Find all the information – HERE   Eye Care Electronic Referral System (EeRS) Rolls out North of Tyne – EyeV NTW and Durham LOC have concerns that currently have not been addressed however NuTH are very keen to proceed. The LOC would welcome thoughts and feedback from members to help us shape our ongoing conversations. …

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15 May 2024

North East and North Cumbria Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub

The North East and North Cumbria Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub is open to anyone who works in health or social care in our area (including Optometry). They are a responsive, easy-to-access, and highly confidential source of support. Appointments are with experienced NHS clinicians. The Hub accepts self-referrals or referrals. Fast and Confidential Individual …

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5 May 2024

North East and North Cumbria NHS Plan

The NENC Integrated Care Board have produced a plan for the next few years. The joint forward plan provides a: • strategic overview of the key priorities and objectives for the medium term. • high-level summary of our priorities and objectives • summary of the work programmes we will deliver to achieve our medium-term objectives. …

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25 April 2024

Use NHS Service Finder to obtain GP practice NHS emails

Instructions have been sent to Contractors to help Performers (optometrists) send referrals and communications to GP via NHS mail. Sent Feb 2024. Please remember these should be sent from practice SHARED MAIL BOXES were possible (rather than personal NHS mail addresses) or EGRESS for those who do not have access to NHS mail accounts.

22 February 2024

HES vouchers issued by NuTH (Newcastle)

Please note that all HES vouchers should be sent to the address below for payment. Failure to do so may result in delayed payment.  Finance Department Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Regent Point Regent Farm Road Gosforth Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3HD The LOC have talked to NuTH to try to establish a system …

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3 January 2024

Orthoptists Discharge process from NuTH – Dec 2023

Please be aware that Orthoptists may be discharging stable patients who no longer require ongoing management in the hospital, and who may wish or need to continue with long-term Fresnel prism rather than incorporation. The patient should present with a Discharge letter.  Patients will be advised that Fresnel prisms can be supplied by a primary care …

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22 December 2023

Referral Guidelines for Local Ophthalmology

Keep checking back as these are updated as the local HES pass us their info. Durham and Darlington Update Dec 2023 is now available   Referral Pathways

22 December 2023

What is the ICS?

An integrated care system (ICS) is the system that brings together the health and care organisations in a particular local area to deliver joined-up health and care services. Each ICS is responsible for planning health and care services in the area it covers. There are 42 ICSs across England. Each one is made up of …

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3 October 2023