Routine Ophthalmology Referrals
Practices are encouraged to send referrals direct to ophthalmology by email from a secure NHS.net practice address, with a copy to the GP.
If it’s not possible to refer direct, routine referrals can be sent to the patient’s GP using the GOS18 referral form or the practice’s own template.
Electronic (email) direct referrals to LTHT can be made by sending to:
leedsth-tr.GP-Referrals@nhs.net
Please note this is a change of address.
EyeV
A new electronic referral pathway EyeV was launched in Leeds in May 2023.
This new platform has been set up to allow referrals to be tracked and for optometrists to be able to review the progression of the referral status.
More information on how to use the EyeV platform can be found here.
SPoA referrals for cataract is done through EyeV. More information regarding SPoA can be found here.
Many providers are now accepting referrals through EyeV:
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Foundation Trust
- Airedale Foundation Trust
- Spa Medica (Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield, Sheffield)
- Optegra (Bradford)
- Yorkshire Clinic (Ramsay Health Care)
- NewMedica (Leeds, Wakefield)
We are expecting Leeds Teaching Hospitals to accept referrals early 2024.
Referrals from the Cataract Direct Referral Scheme or the IOP Refinement Scheme must be on the appropriate referral forms. These can then be emailed to the appropriate provider. For example LTHT referral forms are emailed to leedsth-tr.GP-Referrals@nhs.net
Non-urgent referrals can now also be sent to the new Leeds ‘AQP’ Community Ophthalmology providers either direct (preferably emailed through NHS.net). GPs can access this service through the electronic E-Refer service, currently unavailable to optometry practices.
Urgent referrals should not be sent to the GP – see urgent ophthalmology referrals .
Routine direct referrals to Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust
Routine direct referrals to Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust can be made by using a secure (NHS.net) email account.
Send referrals to leedsth-tr.GP-Referrals@nhs.net
Please note the change of email address.
Your usual headed letter, GOS18, etc can be scanned and sent as an attachment.
If possible, please indicate which sub specialty clinic is required – eg Cataract, Cornea, Diabetic/ Medical Retina, External Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Laser (YAG capsulotomy), Low Vision, Oculoplastics / Orbits / Lacrimal, Other Medical Retina (incl ARMD), Squint / Ocular motility, Vitreoretinal, etc.
Children’s Referrals
1. Routine non-urgent- any of the following
A) Email to leedsth-tr.GP-Referrals@nhs.net
B) Post to:
Referral booking service
St James Hospital
Ground Floor- Room 12 Ashley Wing
LS9 7TF
2. Urgent
Refer via PCAL – See Urgent Ophthalmology referrals
This is NOT advised if suspected papilloedema is an incidental finding and no symptoms.
If nausea, headache and blurred discs request same day to LGI paeds A&E.
Leeds Community Ophthalmology (AQP) Service
Leeds has an adult NHS community ophthalmology service which has been commissioned in 2015 with ‘Any Qualified Provider’ (AQP) contracts.
This allows patients to be seen outside of a hospital setting, closer to home, with reduced waiting times for for non urgent conditions.
A number of different providers are eligible to offer services and all have signed up to a Consultant Led Ophthalmic Delivery Network (CLODN) to ensure uniform level of service and standards of care across the city. The services are delivered by multi-disciplinary teams of clinicians including suitably qualified optometrists and are all led by a consultant ophthalmologist.
Providers are listed on E-Refer (previously Choose and Book) for referrals from GPs, but optometrists can refer direct to the service of choice.
Contact details for all current providers and further details about the service are available here.
YAG Laser Capsulotomy
The Ophthalmology and Optometry team provides a YAG laser clinic in the Eye clinic at St. James’s University Hospital and at Seacroft Hospitals.
Patients referred by their optometrists with Posterior capsular opacification will be booked directly into a YAG laser clinic. Patients will be assessed, consented and treated in that one stop clinic.
Please be aware that if you mention PCO in your referral letter it will be assumed that your patient requires YAG laser and they will be booked into our one stop clinics.
Please make your patient aware of this and provide them with a copy of our posterior capsulotomy leaflet which outlines the process and risks and benefits of the procedure.
The leaflet can be found on LTHT’s Ophthalmology website http://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/ophthalmology-eye-department/what-we-do/yag-laser-clinics/
NHS.net
Practices are encouraged now to send referrals direct to ophthalmology by email from a secure NHS.net practice address, with a copy to the GP.
It is recommended that each practice has one main NHS mail address, and individual practitioner accounts can be linked to this through shared mailboxes.
The LOC will support all practices who have not yet applied for or started using their NHS.net email address. Please contact leedsloc@gmail.com
To apply for a NHS.net account go to https://portal.nhs.net/Help/joiningnhsmail
Please note that you do not now need to complete the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), which replaced the Information Governance toolkit, when applying. A shortened 15 question ‘NHS mail checklist’ available on the Quality in Optometry (QiO) website can be completed and sent with your application.
We will be soon be publishing here a list of all local ophthalmology and GP practices NHS.net email addresses for your convenience.