Morecambe Bay CCG

Westmorland General Hospital

Burton Road
Kendal
LA9 7RG

Tel: 01253 953650
Fax: CPCC on 01539 716691

Email: by NHS.net email to mbh-tr-uhmbtereferrals@nhs.net  
Website: https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/hospitals/westmorland-general-hospital/

Westmorland General Hospital (part of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation trust) is involved in the management and treatment of wet AMD. In order for referrals to be accurately processed the hospital uses the RCOphth. Referral form. 

Wet AMD Referrals should be sent for the attention of the Macula Unit and need to be marked, “Rapid Access Wet AMD”. This will ensure that referrals for wet AMD are clearly visible to the triage staff to prevent delay.

Please note that any co-pathology (e.g. glaucoma) should be referred separately.

You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Ashton Road
Lancaster
Lancashire
LA1 4RP

Switchboard: 01524 65944
Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.30pm
Weekend: 9.30am – 3.00pm

Furness General Hospital

Dalton Lane
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 4LF

Switchboard: 01229 870870
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.00pm
Weekend: Closed

Community Patient Contact Centre (CPCC)

Email: mbh-tr.uhmbreferrals@nhs.net
Fax:  01539 716691
Phone: 01539 716998

Routine referrals should be sent to CPCC, either by fax or an NHS.net email. GOS18 template.

General referrals for non-BCT optometrists who don’t have NHS.net email accounts – STILL go by post or fax to the CPCC (with copy to GP). Letters sent to the CPCC are not available for any clinician to see until they are scanned onto the hospital system.  This can take up to 10 days at busy times. They are then graded in batches by nursing staff. 

At busy times it can take two weeks before anyone reads a routine referral letter.

Remember that with ‘routine’ you should assume it will be up to 3 months before the patient is seen so for anything more urgent you should follow the urgent/emergency pathway.

You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.  Avoid faxing when the clinic is closed.  

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Ashton Road
Lancaster
Lancashire
LA1 4RP

Switchboard: 01524 65944
Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 5.30pm
Weekend: 9.30am – 3.00pm
Fax: 01524 583423
Ophthalmology: 01524 583094

Furness General Hospital

Dalton Lane
Barrow-In-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 4LF

Switchboard: 01229 870870
Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5.00pm
Weekend: Closed
Ophthalmology: 01229 491179
Email: FGH.UrgentEyeReferrals@mbht.nhs.uk

Outside clinic times, if the patient needs immediate medical assessment then phone the hospital switchboard and speak to the 1st on call eye doctor (Usually an Associate Specialist or Specialist Registrar, not a Consultant) to make arrangements.  You will usually also be asked to fax referral details.

Westmorland General does not have an Emergency Eye Clinic – do not send urgent cases.

Telephone Lancaster, Kendal or Barrow-in-Furness hospital depending on where the patient lives. 

For urgent referrals to Furness General Hospital, please use the FGH Emergency Referral Guide.

Update for Royal Lancaster Infirmary

 “The Trust has indicated that they will turn off the fax machine at RLI in early 2020.  Practitioners will be asked to use NHS.net [secure] email or other email encryption (7-zip) for emergency referrals.  Contact the LOC for more details.”

GOS18 template.

You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.

7Zip User Guide

Community Patient Contact Centre (CPCC)

Email: mbh-tr.uhmbreferrals@nhs.net
Fax: 01539 716691
Tel: 01539 716998

Cataract referrals should be sent direct to the patients preferred provider.  This can be via the Community Patient Contact Centre (CPCC) for referrals to University Hospital Morecambe Bay Trust or direct to SpaMedica or another preferred provider.  GOS18 template

You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.

IES and BCT www.pelancashire.co.uk

Better Care Together commissioned via Primary Eyecare Company.

Info for non-accredited Optoms – this relates to Glaucoma Repeat Readings and MECS for those in MB who are not part of the services.

If you are considering HES referral for any of the following conditions then please consider referral to a MECS provider as an alternative:

• Flashes & Floaters / visual aura (eg if it is not possible to perform dilation during your clinic)
• Red eye – Eye infections, Allergic eye conditions
• Corneal abrasions and foreign body removal (non-penetrating)
• Lid Lumps, blepharitis & dry eye

Of course, you are likely to manage the majority of these conditions in your own clinic, without onward referral.  This route is only for those patients who you consider require additional care.

MECS does not usually deal with diplopia, ptosis, severe pain, severe or complete loss of vision. 

BCT MECS providers list

Please give a written referral to the patient stating that they require a MECS appointment, not a full eye exam.

Emergencies must get referred direct to ophthalmology (see urgent referrals section).

Info for non-accredited Optoms – this relates to Glaucoma Repeat Readings and MECS for those in MB who are not part of the services.

Please do not refer any patient into HES on the basis of raised IOP alone.

GRR is used if you detect raised IOP (>23mmHg) or a visual field defect suggestive of glaucoma without glaucomatous disc changes or narrow angles.

GRR providers list

Please send a written referral with the patient explaining that you require GRR.  Include your initial IOP measures (and method), field plots and assessment of discs & angles.

All glaucomatous discs and angles-closure risk patients go to HES as usual.