West Lancashire

Spa Medica 

5th Floor 
Whelmar House
Southway
Skelmersdale
WN8 6NR

Tel: 0161 838 0870
Fax (secure): 0161 839 1423 / 0161 835 1704

Email: spamedica.referrals@nhs.net
Website: https://spamedica.co.uk

Available Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-4pm.

*** FROM MONDAY 23RD MAY 2022 WET AMD REFERRALS SHOULD BE SENT TO SPAMEDICA VIA OPERA***

(Note: you can still use the below pathway if you have yet to complete onboarding to Opera)

SpaMedica is involved in the management and treatment of wet AMD.  Referrals into the service can be made by your usual referral template or using the RCOphth. Referral form. 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.

iSIGHT

West Lancashire Community Eye Clinic Triage
Martland Mill
Mart Lane
Burscough
L40 0SD

iSight triage fax no: 01695 664029
iSight tel contact number: 01695 664020
Email: isight.clinics@nhs.net

*** FROM MONDAY 23RD MAY 2022 ROUTINE REFERRALS FOR WEST LANCS PATIENTS SHOULD BE SENT TO ISIGHT VIA OPERA***

(Note: you can still use the below pathway if you have yet to complete onboarding to Opera)

iSight now triage and arrange appointments for all non-emergency referrals. The referral letter is faxed to the iSight triage service. GOS18 template

To avoid confusion, it is recommended that the optometrist does not send the GP a copy (this will be taken care of by iSight).

All pediatric referrals should go via GP.

Southport & Formby District General Hospital

Town lane
Kew
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 6PN

Tel (triage) : 01704 705218
Fax : 01704705229
Out of hours switchboard : 01704 547471

*** FROM MONDAY 23RD MAY 2022 URGENT REFERRALS FOR WEST LANCS PATIENTS SHOULD BE SENT TO ISIGHT VIA OPERA***

**Emergency referrals should be sent to Southport & Formby District General Hospital via Opera after ringing the triage line**

(Note: you can still use the below pathway if you have yet to complete onboarding to Opera)

During clinic hours, telephone triage and follow through with a fax referral. 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.

GOS18 template

iSIGHT

West Lancashire Community Eye Clinic Triage
Martland Mill
Mart Lane
Burscough
L40 0SD

iSight triage fax no: 01695 664029
iSight tel contact number: 01695 664020
Email: isight.clinics@nhs.net

*** FROM MONDAY 23RD MAY 2022 CATARACT REFERRALS FOR WEST LANCS PATIENTS SHOULD BE SENT TO ISIGHT VIA OPERA***

(Note: you can still use the below pathway if you have yet to complete onboarding to Opera)

All patients requiring an NHS cataract referral must be referred by an accredited practitioner to iSight.

Non-accredited practitioners should refer to the GP on a GOS 18. GOS18 template. The patient will then be sent to an accredited practice for a pre-cataract assessment.

There is currently no MECS service in this area.

The assessment of Urgent presentations is not covered under GOS, therefore, unless undertaken privately, practices are advised to signpost urgent presentations to a GP surgery, Skelmersdale NHS Walk in Centre or A&E.

There is currently no GRRS/OHT monitoring service in this area. See ‘Routine Referrals’ or ‘Urgent Referrals’ sections for advice on how to refer.

These services are commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement and will be provided by local optical practices via the optometry federation and Primary Eyecare Services Ltd (PES) with the support of the Local Optical Committee (see list of accredited practices).

It is for patients registered with a GP practice in the following CCGs:
 

• Morecambe Bay
• Blackpool
• Fylde & Wyre
• Greater Preston
• East Lancashire
• West Lancashire
• Chorley and South Ribble
• Blackburn with Darwen

The purpose of the Learning disabilities and autism Eye Care Pathway is to increase the number of sight tests in patients diagnosed with learning disabilities and autism.

People with learning disabilities and autism are ten times more likely to have eye problems but are less likely to receive timely and appropriate care, than the rest of the population.

This commissioned service is a service with reasonable adjustments for someone who would not be able to use a standard eye test. This includes pre-appointment visits, completion of a functional vision assessment if needed, longer appointment time with an accredited practitioner in learning disabilities and autism and feedback forms completed by the optometrist. The results of the examination are reported using the agreed appropriate format. Only accredited practitioners (optometrists or OMPs) would provide this service.
 

If a Practice wants to provide these services, what should they do?

Practices that wish to deliver this service will need to complete the expression of interest form linked here EOI PwLD NHSE

Already on OPERA?

Once the practice has expressed an interest on the above form, this will provide PES with the required information to enable practices access to the service modules as they go live. Practices will need to ensure that their practitioners have uploaded their WOPEC certificates to their practitioner profile so they can deliver the services. Not sure how to do this – guide linked here.

No WOPEC certification?

If you have practitioners that haven’t delivered these services previously, and therefore have no certification to date, they will need to complete the WOPEC accreditation for the service. All practices who wish to deliver the services must ensure that the optometrists complete the Local Optical Committee Support Unit Optometry Postgraduate Education Centre (LOCSU/WOPEC) training and accreditation programme for patients with learning disabilities and autism. 

Not signed up to OPERA?

If the Practice has completed the expression of interest but has not registered on the OPERA platform to date, please read the guide linked Practice Onboarding – OPERA (optom-referrals.org) and onboard your practice. The Practice will need to complete this process and be approved by PES. Once this has been completed, they too will gain access to the service module once the service goes live in their area, and they can then register their practitioners to enable service delivery using Inviting a Practitioner to access your Practice Opera account – OPERA (optom-referrals.org) guidance.

 
If you require any further information or have any queries regarding the service, please contact us on our hello@referral.support email address and a member of our team will be in touch.

The following page details the Low Vision, ECLO, Voluntary and Statutory services available in West Lancashire.

NONE OF THESE RESOURCES REQUIRE SOMEONE TO BE REGISTERED SIGHT IMPAIRED / SEVERELY SIGHT IMPAIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE.

Low Vision Service: A clinically informed evaluation of the impact of sight loss on an individual and identification of a variety of strategies to meet the resulting challenges. Making best use of remaining vision using magnifiers, lighting, visual aids, and sight training strategies.

Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO): The link between primary and secondary care clinical services and non-clinical support services for people with sight loss. ECLO’s provide emotional support, practical advice, impartial information, guidance, and advocacy and connect with other community resources.

Local Council: Statutory support and rehabilitation via Rehabilitation Officers for the Visually Impaired (ROVIs).

Voluntary & Community Organisations: Charities and other groups that provide a wide range of support services.

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust

Southport and Formby District General Hospital
Town Lane Kew
Southport
PR8 6PN

Ormskirk District General Hospital
Dicconson Way
Wigan Rd
Ormskirk
L39 2AZ

Tel: 01704 704969
Referrals: soh-tr.patientaccess@nhs.net (Also copy in the clinicians below)

Staff

• Karen Knowles (Lead Orthoptist) Email: kknowles@nhs.net 
• Dr Columa Scallan (Optometrist) Email: c.scallan@nhs.net 
• Mr Anthony Hanlon (Optometrist) Email: anthony.hanlon1@nhs.net 

Please provide a letter or use Galloways referral form

There is no Community Optometrist Low Visual Aid Scheme in West Lancashire.

ECLO

• Debbie Williams (RNIB)
  Email: debbie.williams@rnib.org.uk

Please use RNIB Referral form, or letter detailing similar. 

Local Voluntary / Community

Galloways (see above)

Local Council

Lancashire County Council Sensory Impairment Team
Tel: 03001236720
Email: csc.acscustomerservices@lancashire.gov.uk
Website: lancashire.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/living-with-a-disability/living-with-sensory-loss/
Referral form: needs assessment to aid independent living. Note: Patients do not need to be registered sight impaired to be entitled to an assessment from the council.

Sefton Council

Website: sefton.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/

National Charities