Urgent eye care at home frees doctors for emergency departments

 

15/11/2021

 

Urgent eye care at home frees doctors for emergency departments

 

People with urgent, emergency eye care can use the CUES service instead of going straight away to the Accident Emergency department or their GP.

CUES – COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service – is free for all, including children. It is designed to reduce pressure on busy emergency departments and GPs.

An optometrist from CUES will offer a telephone or video consultation so people don’t need to leave their home, although in more complex and severe cases they will see people face to face.

An eye problem is urgent if it is red, sore/painful eye, if there are flashes or floaters (for example small dark spots, squiggly lines, rings or cobwebs), specks of dust, a wood chip, a metal shaving, an insect or a piece of glass), or the person’s vision changes suddenly.

Dr Jason Broch, GP and Clinical Chair at NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The sooner treatment can be provided the better the chances of your eye health recovering. Despite pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NHS is still here for you when you need us. Don’t leave your eye problem to chance as this can have a serious impact on your long-term eye health – in some cases sight loss.”

Participating optometrists are listed on https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice/ Other routes to the service are through a referral by your optician, GP, or phoning NHS 111 or online at https://111.nhs.uk/

For more information, watch this explanatory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0SBOhDhlm4

 

ENDS

Notes to editor

Looking after your eyes

Visit the NHS website on how you can look after the general health of your eyes https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/look-after-your-eyes/

 

Accessing health services – keeping everyone safe

The NHS in Leeds is asking all patients to:

  • Wear a face covering. When attending appointments patients should wear a face mask or covering such as a homemade mask or scarf. All staff will also be wearing masks. There are some people who are unable to wear face coverings for health reasons, we will advise you what you need to do.  Children under three years old (or under seven in community health centres) will not need to wear a face covering.
  • Arrive on time.  All face-to-face appointments have been scheduled to minimise contact between patients so it is important that people don’t arrive too early to the clinic. Patients who arrive too early may be asked to leave and return at their allotted time.
  • Come by yourself. Patients should attend an appointment alone due to social distancing measures leading to reduced space in waiting areas. If you need help with walking, communicating, or have other care needs, then no more than one carer or family member who lives at same address should attend an appointment with you. If a carer needs to attend they too will need to follow advice such as wearing a face covering and practice social distancing.
  • Clean your hands. Good hand hygiene, including regularly washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds can help reduce the spread of infection. People visiting hospital may also have their temperature checked on arrival. Most healthcare services will have hand sanitisers or handwashing facilities available.
  • Keep left and follow any instructions. Every effort has been made to facilitate social distancing – patients are being asked to keep their distance from other people when they are not in their appointment. Signs giving instructions are on display in all buildings.

 

For media enquiries please contact:

NHS Leeds CCG Communications Team

Telephone: 0113 84 35528 or 0113 84 35470

Email: [email protected].