Latest News from Hampshire LOC 24 April 2026

27 April 2026

Update: Frimley ICB Enhanced Cataract Referral Service Pathway for Hampshire Patients

Primary Eyecare Services has issued an important update regarding the Enhanced Cataract Referral Service for patients registered with GP surgeries that have moved from the former Frimley ICB footprint into the Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB area.

This update will be shared with all practices delivering the Enhanced Cataract Referral Service in Frimley and Hampshire on Thursday 23 April.

Background

Following national ICB boundary changes, GP surgeries previously under Frimley ICB have been redistributed across:

• Thames Valley ICB
• Surrey & Sussex ICB
• Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB

Patients registered with these surgeries remain eligible for Frimley‑commissioned enhanced services until December 2026, including:

• Enhanced Cataract Referral Service
• Wet AMD Direct Referral Service
• Glaucoma Repeat Readings

Key Change for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Patients

Patients registered with GP surgeries that have moved into the Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB footprint are now also eligible for the Hampshire DORA Single Point of Access (SPoA).

The ICB has requested that Enhanced Cataract Referral Service referrals for these patients are routed via the DORA SPoA.

Hampshire‑based Independent Service Providers may reject referrals that have not been submitted through this pathway.

Affected GP Surgeries

This update applies only to patients registered with the following practices:

• Alexandar House Surgery
• Giffard Drive Surgery
• Crondall New Surgery
• Hart Health Partnership
• Jenner House Surgery
• Mayfield Medical Centre
• North Camp Surgery
• Oakley Health Group
• Princes Gardens Surgery
• Richmond Surgery
• The Border Practice
• The Cambridge Practice
• The Wellington Practice
• Voyager Family Health

How to Refer

When completing an Enhanced Cataract Referral Service episode for these patients:

1. Submit the form as usual.
2. Click the red ‘refer’ button.
3. Scroll down the provider list and select:
   HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT CATARACT SPoA (DORA PHONECALL)  (This option may appear lower in the list near Southampton‑based providers.)

Important Notes

• The Enhanced Cataract Referral Service already captures the patient’s medical history.
  Therefore, SPoA will not arrange a DORA phone call for these cases.
• You must still discuss patient choice and record the chosen provider.
• Add the chosen hospital in the ‘Comments to surgical provider if required’ box on the Outcome Recording page (second‑to‑last page).
• If no provider is named, the patient will receive a DORA phone call to establish choice.

Queries

For questions about this update, please contact:
katie.atkins@primaryeyecare.co.uk

Save the Date! Hampshire LOC AGM & CPD Event 10th June 2026

Hampshire LOC is pleased to announce the date for this year’s AGM & CPD Evening, taking place at the Solent Spa Hotel, Whiteley.

Date: 10th June 2026

Time: 6:30pm – approx. 9:00pm
Venue: Solent Spa Hotel, Whiteley, Hampshire

Evening Programme

The evening will begin with:

• Buffet and networking from 6:30pm
• Hampshire LOC Annual General Meeting
• CPD Discussion Workshop presented by Scope
  • Suitable for OOs, DOs, CLOs and IPs
  • 3 interactive CPD points available
• Optional online CPD quiz for an additional 1 CPD point

This event offers an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues, engage with LOC business, and gain up to 4 CPD points across the evening.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Clinical Safety Reminder: Urgent Referral Required for Transient Monocular Visual Loss/Suspected Amaurosis Fugax

The LOC have been made aware of the increasing number of routine letters going to GPs for onward referral regarding patients with transient visual loss / suspected amaurosis fugax, where no urgent referral has been made.

Transient monocular visual loss / suspected amaurosis fugax may represent a transient ischaemic attack and carries a risk of stroke. In such cases, urgent assessment in line with national and local stroke/TIA pathways is essential, with aspirin given as soon as possible and the patient to be referred and seen in a TIA clinic within 24 hours.

Therefore, on advice from our local GPs and the LMC, the LOC would like to remind optometrists that for any patients who has presented with amaurosis fugax symptoms (that have stopped) should be referred immediately to their GP or other appropriate medical service. The LMC would suggest that the optometrist telephones the GP practice. Bypass numbers for practices can be found on NHS Service Finder or there is often an option for professionals.

If this is not possible (due to the timings e.g. Weekends or practices near closing time/ closed/ transport delay) then the patient should be directed to another service that is able to assess them urgently – this may be 111, an urgent treatment centre or ED. There is a map of these here: Urgent and Emergency Care Facilities – Google My Maps created by the Local Medical Committee or you can search on the NHS website.

The patient should also be provided with a copy of the referral letter detailing their symptoms and possible diagnosis clearly stated.

In the case of ongoing symptoms which could therefore be a stroke then the patient should call 999 immediately in line with NHS advice.

With GP practices receiving several hundred letters per day then routine correspondence asking the GP to “consider referral” for suspected amaurosis fugax, without clear risk stratification or urgency, is not safe or clinically appropriate. It also risks patients not being seen within recommended timeframes with adverse clinical outcomes.

Invitation to Support Recruitment for Geographic Atrophy Clinical Trial (University Hospital Southampton)

Hampshire LOC has been asked to share details of an important research opportunity at University Hospital Southampton, which is currently recruiting participants for a clinical trial investigating treatments for geographic atrophy (GA).

Local practices are invited to help identify suitable patients who may wish to receive further information about the study.

Eligibility Summary

Researchers are seeking patients who meet the following key criteria:

• Geographic atrophy not involving the centre of the macula
• No history of wet AMD in the study eye

Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are available from the research team.

How to Refer Interested Patients

If you have patients who may be eligible and are happy to be contacted about the study, please share their name and contact details (phone/email/address) with:

Research Sister: Priya Mathew
Email: priya.mathew3@uhs.nhs.uk
(University Hospital Southampton)

The research team will then contact the patient directly to provide further information and discuss participation.

Free CPD Dinner: Review of Common Macular Disease – 12 May 2026

Hampshire LOC has been asked to share details of an upcoming free CPD dinner event hosted by Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology. Local practitioners are warmly invited to attend an evening of education, discussion, and networking.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday 12 May 2026
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Rhinefield House Hotel, Brockenhurst
CPD: 1 point (lecture with MCQ and Q&A)

About the Session

Review of Common Macular Disease  Presented by Consultant Ophthalmologist Kalman Hodosi

This session will provide a practical review of the most common macular diseases encountered in everyday clinical practice, with a focus on OCT interpretation and treatment principles. The evening includes:

• A structured lecture
• Multiple‑choice quiz
• Q&A session
• Opportunity to meet the Hampshire Macular Service clinical team
• Optional clinic tour bookings

Registration

Places are limited and allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
To register, please email:

Nikolas Stanislavov  (Nikolas.Stanislavov@practiceplusgroup.com)
Business Development Manager, Practice Plus Group Ophthalmology
Include: your name, GOC number, and practice name

Survey Invitation: Optometrists’ Confidence in Binocular Vision – University of Manchester Study

The University of Manchester, exploring UK optometrists’ confidence in assessing and managing binocular vision. The research forms part of a Master’s dissertation and aims to gather views from a wide and representative group of practising optometrists.

To participate, you must be:

• A fully qualified UK optometrist
• Registered with the General Optical Council

What the Survey Involves

Participants will be asked to:

• Rate their confidence in conducting and interpreting binocular vision tests
• Indicate how confident they feel managing patients with suspected binocular vision problems
• Optionally enter a prize draw upon completion

The survey is short and can be completed online.

Access the Survey

https://www.qualtrics.manchester.ac.uk/jfe/form/SV_9MmX98yH8ARKMke

The survey will remain open until 30 June 2026.

About the Study

This research is being conducted by:

• Dr Ketan Parmar, Academic Optometrist
• Dr Catherine Porter
• Amina Bashir (The University of Manchester)
• Kate Vernazza (Manchester Royal Eye Hospital)

The project has been reviewed and approved by the University of Manchester Proportionate Research Ethics Committee.

Further Information

Full study details and the Participant Information Sheet are available via the survey link.