Routine Cataract Referrals
Single Point of Access (SPoA) Information
September 2025 (Communication from the ICB):
Single Point of Access (SPoA) for cataracts is now live and this is the only route for cataract referrals in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
Please find attached details of the updated referral process for optometrists. Even if that patient is unsuitable for DORA (see referral process), the referral must still go via SPoA.
(Please note, the LOC voted not to approve the new guidelines – particularly Step 6 2b)
To enable the new process to embed smoothly there will be a bedding in period for referrers. During this period, any referrals received via another route will be accepted, but the referrer will also receive correspondence from the provider, reminding them of the pathway that should now be followed. From 1st October 2025 referrals via any other route will not be accepted.
The ICB will send further communications confirming the end of the bedding in period
Please NOTE: The pathway can not be mandated due to our current GOS contract, so GPs are not to reject referrals. This is only a preferred pathway. The LOC are working to have this point clarified by the ICB.
If any optometrists are aware of GPs rejecting referrals, please contact the chair@hampshireloc.org.uk
Important Information:
- When referring, please ask all patients to double check their details to ensure your referrals include their government held name, DOB and address. This is because the data on your referral MUST match the NHS held data. As an example, does the NHS/Government know this person as “William” rather than “Bill”?
- Even if a patient is unsuitable (i.e hard of hearing) for the autonomous phone call (DORA), the GOS 18 referral is to be emailed to the SPoA. Optometrists are to have the provider choice conversation with the patient. Then on the GOS 18, state the patient is unsuitable for DORA and provide the preferred provider (see Step 5 in the Referral Instructions)
- If you have questions about the referral process in general or about a referral that has been processed, please contact hiowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net. This email address is also directly available to patients to answer any referral questions or provide support with the process. For example, if a patient has made an incorrect selection via “DORA” or wants to amend something they said to “DORA”
Hospitals outside of Hampshire, including Bournemouth
Cataract patients residing in Hampshire, but wishing to be seen elsewhere in England should still be referred via the SPoA, but will not be able to use the AI assistant. In such instances Optometrists will need to complete the choice discussion in practice and the chosen surgical provider will need to be indicated on the referral email
Referrals for those unable to participate in a telephone discussion in English
Cataract patents who are unable to hold a telephone conversion in English should still be referred via the SPoA, but will not be able to use the AI assistant. In such instances Optometrists will need to complete the choice discussion in practice and the chosen surgical provider will need to be indicated on the referral email
Post-Cataract Information
In April 2025, the HIOW ICB ceased to commission the Post-Operative Cataract Service pathway for HIOW Trust hospitals. This primarily affected patients from Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital (Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust), and Lymington Peripheral Clinic.
Therefore for the most of HIOW the NHS Post-Operative Cataract Services is now only available when a patient has been seen by an ISP (Independent Sector Provider). Patients are to be seen 4-6 weeks after their surgery, with the results provided to the ISP for audit.
However, Frimley Trust has commissioned its own post-op cataract service for patients who had their surgery at a Frimley Trust location. This funding is separate from any ICB. This therefore includes patients whose home address or GP surgery falls within the HIOW ICB footprint.
The Frimley Trust locations are:
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Frimley Park
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Heatherwood (Ascot)
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Wexham Park (Wexham Park)
Any patient seen for their cataract surgery at a Frimley Trust location can be seen by a practice who have signed up to provide cataract services via OPERA to provide the NHS Post-Op Cataract Service.
The practice will be paid by Primary Eye Care Services (PES) for the episode as per the usual process.
These patients will appear on the Opera dashboard for booking when they are transferred by Frimley Trust (similar to any post-ops from ISP).
For any support for Post-Op Cataract episodes using OPERA, please visit Primary Eyecare Services – here or contact Katie Atkins, Clinical Lead, PES – Katie.Atkins@primaryeyecare.co.uk
However, please do alert the LOC to any trust (other than Frimley) requesting information from an optometrist in order to complete a post-op report. The LOC can be contacted via email – manager@hampshireloc.org.uk
LOC suggested commentary when rejecting requests from Trust: – here
“Can I claim a GOS 1 alongside a Post-Op cataract assessment?” – here
Please do not refer to the SPoA for any post-cataract services. Routine YAG should be referred directly to the surgical provider or via the patient’s GP