Here you will find referral guidelines and refinement information for the area . See below for specific information.

BSW ICB Routine Referrals

Most of the routine referrals within the Wiltshire, BANES and Swindon areas should be sent via the OPERA platform or to PES via their email address “cnech.pecservices@nhs.net” Their team will then arrange for the appropriate onward referral on the OPERA platform.

Most practices will have their own referral templates to use for this. If not please use the standard GOS18 referral form.

Note; for glaucoma referrals, the referral centre requests- a brief disc description, IOP, visual fields and an open or closed Van Herrick assessment of the anterior chamber angle to be included in the referral.

Should you have any questions about this process please contact Primary Eyecare Services.

Referral Letter to Ophthalmology Feb 24

Hydroxychloroquine screening – there is no direct referral route for this in Wiltshire. Please follow the below guidelines from PECS if you have a patient that meets the below criteria-

“The current guidance that we are following for referrals received by optometrist for HCQ screening is asking them to direct the referral to the patients GP for advice/onward referral. This is because the below information needs to be attached to a referral as per Royal College of Ophthalmologists Advice.

https://www.rcophth.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Hydroxychloroquine-andChloroquine-Retinopathy-Monitoring-Guideline.pdf

Hydroxychloroquine monitoring begins after 5 years of therapy for patients without additional

risk factors and after 1 year with patients with additional risk factors including:

– Concomitant tamoxifen use

– Impaired renal function (eGFR <60ml/min/1.73m2)

– Dose of hydroxychloroquine greater than 5mg per kg per day

– Chloroquine use

As per current guidance, there must be the following information in the referrals (which comes from the GP):

1. Dose and duration (>5mg/kg/day)

2. eGRF (<60)

3. If concomitant tamoxifen”

For more urgent referrals, please see below the relevant hospital contact details/referral pathways.

CUES

Referral information for RUH, Bath

Referral information for Swindon

Referral information for Salisbury

Useful links and contacts

Referral Process for Military Patients (registered with military GP)

Letter for MOD GP referrals (with contact email addresses)