2023 optometry referral pathway update

NHS North East London will be introducing an alternative NHS referral pathway, for patients registered with GP practices in City and Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Note: Optometrists with patients registered Barking & Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge will continue to refer to the current single point of access for those areas provided by Evolutio.

From Monday 30 October 2023 we will be launching the new pathway.

This new pathway will allow referrals to be sent directly, via email, to a new Single Point of Access (SPoA), hosted by Moorfields Eye hospital on behalf of local ophthalmology services.

The new pathway is designed to:

• Improve the efficiency of referral processing
• Reduce patient journey time from point of referral to ophthalmology appointment
• Facilitate the launch of an advice and guidance service
• Facilitate the provision of continuing professional development-approved education to community optometrists
• Embed processes to provide you with updates about your patients, including referral feedback.

How will it work? 

The new Single Point of Access will:

• check and confirm receipt of your referral, including any supporting documentation (N.B. you will have the option to attach images or other supporting documents, although you’re not obliged to as part of a GOS18 referral).
• upload this information onto the electronic referral system (eRS) (as currently performed by the GP), for onward referral to local ophthalmology services.

You may like to view Peter Thomas (Moorfields Lead) on YouTube explaining the service to colleagues in North Central London (NCL), as the service will operate very similarly at https://youtu.be/Ro53QsXQlRA

When and how will I access this new pathway?

From 30 October 2023, routine and urgent referrals will be emailed to a designated SPoA email inbox. We will be in touch with comprehensive details and guidance on how to use the new pathway. 

How do I ensure the referral information complies with information governance requirements and remains secure and safe?

Please send your referrals from your nhs.net email account.

Note if you have an nhs.net email account which has been deactivated you can reactivate your account by getting in touch with helpdesk@nhs.net . It will be good to check that as soon as possible to be ready for the new pathway

I don’t have an nhs.net mail account: What is the process for setting one up? 

For optometrists working at independent practices + small groups comprising less than 10 practices: Please use the NHS England sign-up portal at: https://support.nhs.net/knowledge-base/registering-optometrists/

We will provide further details for optometrists working at multiples + larger groups comprising of more than 10 practices in due course.

Any questions? Please contact nelondonicb.eyeadmin@nhs.net . Please note that this is for administrative queries only – please do not use the inbox for referrals.