{"id":1255,"date":"2024-12-24T12:53:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T12:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/?page_id=1255"},"modified":"2026-10-02T11:32:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:32:31","slug":"routine-cataract-referrals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/routine-cataract-referrals\/","title":{"rendered":"Cataract and Post Op Information"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">Cataract and Post Op Information<\/h1>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\"><strong>Cataract Referrals: Single Point of Access (SPoA)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Coard (HIOW ICB) has partnered with a company called Ufonia to manage NHS cataract referrals via SPoA. The aim of the SPoA is to streamline all NHS cataract referrals to one point and offer patients full choice of providers in a standardised scalable way.<\/p>\n<p>Ufonia uses an autonomous telemedicine company (called DORA) to call the patients to discuss choice of surgical provider.<\/p>\n<p><strong>September 2025 (Communication from the ICB): <\/strong>Even if that patient is unsuitable for DORA (see referral process), the referral must still go via SPoA.<\/p>\n<p>PLEASE NOTE: <span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">The pathway can not be mandated due to our current GOS contract (but it is the HIOW ICB&#8217;s preferred pathway). Therefore GPs are not to reject direct referrals but direct referrals to ISPs will be rejected. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">If any optometrists are aware of GPs rejecting referrals, please contact the chair@hampshireloc.org.uk<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Referrals into SPoA<\/strong> are via this email address: <a href=\"mailto:hiow@spoa.uk\">hiow@spoa.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The full referral pathway: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/Jan-2026-SPoA-Referral-instructions-for-Optometrists.docx\">Jan 2026 SPoA &#8211; Referral instructions for Optometrists<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Please note, the LOC voted not to approve these guidelines due to Step 6 2b)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ICB Cataract Website, updated monthly with wait times &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/cataracts\">here<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ufonia Leaflet (December 2024) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/12\/Hampshire-and-Isle-of-Wight-Optometry-Patient-Leaflet-V4.pdf\">here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">Key Points for Using SPoA:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Double check patient personal information:<\/strong> Your referrals must include their government held name, DOB and address. This is because the<strong> data on your referral MUST match the NHS held data<\/strong>. As an example, does the NHS\/Government know this person as &#8220;William&#8221; rather than &#8220;Bill&#8221;?<\/p>\n<p><strong>If a patient is unsuitable (i.e hard of hearing\/unable to participate in English) for the autonomous phone call (DORA):\u00a0 <\/strong>The referral is still to go via SPoA. Optometrists are to have the patient choice conversation and state on the referral the patient is unsuitable for DORA and provide the preferred provider (see Step 5 in the Referral Instructions)<\/p>\n<p><strong>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&#8217;s GP<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">Referrals to Hospitals outside of Hampshire Area<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Updated Sept 2026:<\/strong> Patients residing in Hampshire, but wishing to be seen elsewhere in England should still be referred via the SPoA.<\/p>\n<p>Optometrists will need to have the patient choice conversation and the choosen provider will need to be indicated on the referral email. It is also important to remind the patient that if DORA does not initially offer a provider, the patient does have the right to request their choosen provider that is located outside of the Hampshire area.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">Questions\/Complaints regarding SPoA Referral Process<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Updated Sept 2026:<\/strong> If an optometrist (or a patient) have questions about the referral process or about a referral that has been processed, please contact\u00a0 <strong><a id=\"OWAd1f7981d-c977-11ab-f99c-93bb234f2fa7\" title=\"mailto:hiowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net\" href=\"mailto:hiowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net\" data-linkindex=\"0\">h<\/a><a id=\"OWAd1f7981d-c977-11ab-f99c-93bb234f2fa7\" title=\"mailto:hiowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net\" href=\"mailto:hiowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net\" data-linkindex=\"0\">iowicb-hsi.cataractspoa@nhs.net<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A patient requesting <strong>an update on their cataract surgery<\/strong> following a Dora call: Patient is to contact the provider currently handling the referral; details are available on<a id=\"OWAad3c87ed-12cb-ab96-8a65-0af0bae30b26\" style=\"font-size: 1rem;\" title=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/cataracts\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/cataracts\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"1\">\u00a0this website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A patient is requesting to be <strong>referred to a different provider<\/strong>\u00a0following a Dora call: Patient is to <strong>contact the provider<\/strong> currently handling the referral and ask them to redirect it. A list of all providers, along with their contact details, is available on<a id=\"OWAce1c8a91-7752-0e63-b785-c63827c21127\" title=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/cataracts\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/cataracts\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"2\">\u00a0this website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>If the patient is having <strong>difficulty getting through to the provider<\/strong> to change the referral and wishes to make a complaint, then the patient can contact the ICB directly by filling out this form: <a id=\"OWA898dfb17-2676-1fa8-6839-8fd872a10755\" title=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/complaintform\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/complaintform\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\">https:\/\/www.hantsiow.icb.nhs.uk\/complaintform<\/a>\u00a0or contact the <strong>Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)<\/strong>\u00a0at the provider hospital handling the referral.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">Post-Cataract Information Virtual Follow Up Pathway<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Updated Aug 2026 (Communication agreed with ICB)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Clarification regarding appointments following cataract surgery<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>From 1st\u00a0April 2026 <strong>post operative follow up activity has been managed through a virtual follow up pathway where clinically appropriate.<\/strong> This means that patients will receive a phone call in the postoperative period, typically between 3-4 weeks following surgery, to identify any ongoing care needs and if required, a clinical follow-up is coordinated directly with the provider that carried out the surgery. Where the surgical provider feels there is a clinical reason for face-to-face follow-up, it is the responsibility of that provider to deliver these follow-ups. In some cases, providers may have a contract with individual optometric practices to deliver post cataract assessment.<\/p>\n<p><b>Complications<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As part of their ophthalmology contracts surgical providers are responsible for managing all their patient\u2019s post-operative complications regardless of timescale.\u00a0Providers are responsible for reporting complications to the ICB allowing the commissioner to maintain standards of quality for its population.<\/p>\n<p>If a patient presents in practice with symptoms suggestive of post-operative complications, the patient should be advised to contact their surgical provider using the details they were given during their discharge process.<\/p>\n<p>If a patient presents for their sight test (with no symptoms) but a post-operative complication is discovered during the sight test,\u00a0then the optometrist should refer via a GOS18 referral and should note on the referral who the cataract provider was, if known.<\/p>\n<p>If a patient contacts your practice with symptoms who has already reached out to their surgical provider and been informed that the provider cannot see them, please do inform the LOC and the ICB of the incident by emailing\u00a0<a id=\"OWA2c8607b3-5861-b6bd-0ee8-7601b8e69eef\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"mailto:hiow.electivecaremailbox@nhs.net\" href=\"mailto:hiow.electivecaremailbox@nhs.net\" data-linkindex=\"1\">hiow.electivecaremailbox@nhs.net<\/a>\u00a0with the details, after obtaining patient consent<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_elementToProof\">LOC suggested commentary when rejecting requests from Trust for post-operative data: \u2013 <a id=\"OWA57fe192d-f652-d56e-d774-889f04633318\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2025\/04\/LOC-suggested-commentary-when-rejecting-requests-for-Post.docx\" href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2025\/04\/LOC-suggested-commentary-when-rejecting-requests-for-Post.docx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"7\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_elementToProof\">\u201cCan I claim a GOS 1 alongside a Post-Op cataract assessment?\u201d \u00a0\u2013\u00a0<a id=\"OWA9a1b9d24-4c9e-1234-0c23-182030a2608b\" class=\"x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/2022\/12\/07\/can-i-claim-a-gos-1-alongside-a-post-op-cataract-assessment\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/2022\/12\/07\/can-i-claim-a-gos-1-alongside-a-post-op-cataract-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"8\">here<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\"><strong>Change of North Hampshire GP surgeries from Frimley ICB to Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Updated July 2026:<\/strong> With the changes to Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundaries, GP surgeries that were previously under Frimley ICB have been split between the new Thames Valley ICB, Surrey and Sussex ICB, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB.<\/p>\n<p>A list of the Frimley ICB GP surgeries and which ICB they now sit under can be <a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.sp1-brevo.net\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsDg0nrTj37bMHHxhmefKR\/6tUYEviVD91R\">found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Frimley ICB commissioned three enhanced services:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.sp1-brevo.net\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsE8LW3u7PDWWXLn5bdP2V\/i_lwwJmdsteM\">Enhanced Cataract Referral Service<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.sp1-brevo.net\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsEagEGKVlJRgnPcTQc8kZ\/i1_h0Y0Bz3Jn\">Wet AMD Direct Referral Service<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.sp1-brevo.net\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsF30wSku7PMr3TRrFasSd\/CAFsuAmtVtKx\">Glaucoma Repeat Readings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The contracts for these are still active and unchanged, and we have had confirmation from the ICBs that they will remain in place until at least December 31<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a02026. This means that any patient registered with a GP surgery on the <a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.sp1-brevo.net\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsFVLefBITVI1JXHF4ZcAh\/FKzLGjFFytFH\">list<\/a>\u00a0is still eligible to be seen under any of the above services, regardless of the fact they now sit under a different named ICB. That they used to sit within Frimley means they are still eligible.<\/p>\n<p>This includes patients now in Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB and Thames Valley ICB which are also eligible for the DORA pre-cataract pathways in those areas. Practitioners can choose to refer through either pathway. This has been confirmed with both ICBs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Enhanced Cataract Referral Service in Hampshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Patients that are registered with GP surgeries that have moved into Hampshire and Isle of Wight (IOW) ICBs footprint are now\u00a0eligible for both the <a href=\"https:\/\/d4jq2.r.a.d.sendibm1.com\/mk\/cl\/f\/sh\/1t6Af4OiGsFxgMrbgpbDBZb6ctYLsl\/c0PsByLiGnqE\">Hampshire DORA SpoA<\/a>\u00a0and the Enhanced Cataract Referral Service.<\/p>\n<p>This is the ICB\u2019s preferred pathway for Hampshire and Isle of Wight patients being referred for cataract surgery. The ICB have requested that Enhanced Cataract Referral Service patients are also sent through this pathway. Hampshire-based Independent Service Providers may reject any referrals they receive that have not gone through DORA SPoA.<\/p>\n<p>The patients who are eligible for both services and affected by this update are those registered with the following GP surgeries only:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alexandar House Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Giffard Drive Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Crondall New Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Hart Health Partnership<\/li>\n<li>Jenner House Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Mayfield Medical Centre<\/li>\n<li>North Camp Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Oakley Health Group<\/li>\n<li>Princes Gardens Surgery<\/li>\n<li>Richmond Surgery<\/li>\n<li>The Border Practice<\/li>\n<li>The Cambridge Practice<\/li>\n<li>The Wellington Practice<\/li>\n<li>Voyager Family Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Frimley NHS Foundation Trust Post-Operative Cataract Service<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Frimley NHS Foundation Trust commissions their own Post-Operative Cataract Service (POCS). This means that the Trust fully fund this service, and it is not related to ICB commissioning or boundaries at all.<\/p>\n<p>The only eligibility criteria for a patient to be seen under this service is that they have had cataract surgery at Frimley Park, Heatherwood or Wexham Park, and have been transferred to OPERA by Frimley Trust. The patient\u2019s GP surgery (and therefore the ICB they sit within), their address, and the practice location, have no bearing on whether a patient is eligible for the service.<\/p>\n<p>The practice will be paid by Primary Eye Care Services (PES) for the episode as per the usual process.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_elementToProof\">These patients will appear on the Opera dashboard for booking when they are transferred by Frimley Trust (similar to any post-ops from ISP).<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_elementToProof\">For any support for Post-Op Cataract episodes using OPERA, please visit Primary Eyecare Services \u2013\u00a0<a id=\"OWAeda32a5d-7882-e929-3637-385c4034a283\" class=\"x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/primaryeyecare.co.uk\/\" href=\"https:\/\/primaryeyecare.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"5\">here<\/a>\u00a0or contact Katie Atkins, Clinical Lead, PES \u2013\u00a0<a id=\"LPlnkOWA44540f5b-a933-f993-363a-7faba096e119\" class=\"x_x_x_x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"mailto:Katie.Atkins@primaryeyecare.co.uk\" href=\"mailto:Katie.Atkins@primaryeyecare.co.uk\" data-linkindex=\"6\">Katie.Atkins@primaryeyecare.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"color: #0066cb;\">PIFU (Patient Initiated Follow Up) Pathway for Hampshire GP patients who had cataract surgery in Dorset<\/h2>\n<p>CHEC are no longer providing postop assessments for those patients who had their cataract surgery in Dorset, and in the absence of any other commissioned pathway, <strong>Hampshire patients only\u00a0<\/strong>will now be on a PIFU pathway. This is different from the virtual post-operative pathway as the originally provider was not part of the HIOW ICB.<\/p>\n<p>Patients will be advised to book in with their usual optometrist 4-6 weeks after surgery to update their glasses, and to contact the Eye Unit if there are any concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Please see this link to the information leaflet given to patients: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/04\/PIFU-cataract-1.pdf\">PIFU cataract Leaflet<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cataract and Post Op Information Cataract Referrals: Single Point of Access (SPoA) The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Coard (HIOW ICB) has partnered with a company called Ufonia to manage NHS cataract referrals via SPoA. The aim of the SPoA is to streamline all NHS cataract referrals to one point and offer patients &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/routine-cataract-referrals\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Cataract and Post Op Information&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1255","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/766"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1255"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1963,"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1255\/revisions\/1963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.loc-online.co.uk\/hampshire-loc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}