As you will be aware, the Eye Care Navigation Service is launching across Lancashire and South Cumbria. This is a key development in improving patient access and ensuring patients are directed to the most appropriate pathways.
Following launch, practices delivering Community Urgent Eye Care Services (CUES) and Glaucoma Enhanced Case Finding (GERS) may experience an increase in patient activity as more patients are navigated into community services.
What this means for your practice
- GOS18 and GP referrals will be more appropriately directed, supporting patients to access the right service first time
- Patients will be contacted by the Eye Care Navigation Service (ECNS) hub and advised on the next steps; the hub will also contact practices to support timely booking
- CUES Practices remain responsible for contacting patients to arrange appointments once referrals are received
- You may see an increase in referrals and patient enquiries across both CUES and GERS services
This approach is designed to improve patient experience, streamline pathways and support more efficient delivery of care.
Clinical Dashboard – Action Required
To support safe and effective management of this activity, it is essential that practices regularly review the OPERA Clinical Dashboard. This should be:
- At least weekly as a minimum, and
- Daily for busier practices or those experiencing higher volumes
Regular monitoring will help ensure:
- Patients are reviewed and booked in a timely manner
- Referrals and episodes are not missed
- Actions are completed promptly, including CUES, Post-operative Cataract, Low Vision and GOS18 referrals returned via ECNS.
To support this, practices may wish to implement a local Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the OPERA dashboard is checked routinely and consistently, with clear responsibility assigned within the team.
GERS Patient Timeframes
As a reminder, practices delivering GERS are required to ensure that all patients referred for a GERS assessment are offered an appointment within four weeks of receipt of referral. Maintaining this standard is essential to support timely patient care and service quality.
Supporting a smooth launch
By maintaining regular oversight of your dashboard and ensuring robust processes are in place, you will play a vital role in:
- Supporting timely patient care
- Maintaining service standards
- Ensuring the success of the Eye Care Navigation Service locally
If you have any questions or require further support, please contact us via email at hello@referral.support with ‘L&SC Eye Care Navigation Service’ in the subject header.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards,
Primary Eyecare Services
