Bolton Referrals

Healthi Electronic Referrral System

All referrals by practitioners within Greater Manchester for a patient with a Greater Manchester GP should be made through the Healthi electronic referral platform. This will route the referral appropriately and also enable GP look-up. The referral information below is for information and for the use of practitioners outside Greater Manchester who have a GM patient, or for practitioners within GM if Healthi is unavailable for some reason.

You can find information on the urgency of referrals in Greater Manchester here:

Download pdf Guidance on the Urgency of Referrals in GM

This page provides referral details for patients registered with a GP in Bolton CCG. For patients outside this area, use the GP search to find which CCG area protocols to follow and then consult that area's referral page

Click on the headings below for more information.

Routine referrals

Bolton Referrals

Referrals in general

Routine referrals for patients with a GP in Bolton that are not part of an extended service (e.g. cataract, ocular hypertension) go direct to Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Fax: 01204 390 554 (Routine)
Tel: 01204 390 333
Patients already under care
In cases where a patient is already under the care of an ophthalmologist and a new routine condition has arisen, you should write to the ophthalmologist rather than re-refer.

An electronic GOS18 template is available here for those areas without access to Healthi:

Download Bolton GOS18 Substitute.doc
Remember that with routine you should assume it will be up to 3 months before the patient is seen. "Soon" is not generally recognised by GPs or by HES appointments, so for anything that you feel is more urgent you should phone eye casualty for advice.

Routine referrals for patients outside Bolton should use the referral route for their area – check the relevant area referral page.
General urgent referrals

General urgent referrals

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

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01204 390 333
Fax Number: 01204 390 051 (Urgent)
NHSMail: Boh-tr.BoltonAcuteOphthalmicReferrals@nhs.net
If you feel a patient requires to be seen urgently you can phone the Bolton Eye Unit on 01204 390 333 and ask for advice. Use the Bolton GOS18 for the referral note:

Download Bolton GOS18 Substitute.doc
Wet AMD
You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01204 390 333
Fax Number: 01204 390 051 (Urgent)
NHSMail: Boh-tr.BoltonAcuteOphthalmicReferrals@nhs.net
Email contacts:
- Ann Haughton - Send eMail
- Wendy Dawson - Send eMail
Tel: 01204 390 390 ext 3529
Patient identifiable information should only be sent by email if both ends are NHSMail (i.e. xx@nhs.net)

Bolton Royal Hospital is involved in the management of Wet ARMD using Lucentis injections. In order for referrals to be accurately processed the hospital has developed a dedicated form for referral. This will ensure that referrals for Wet ARMD are clearly visible to the triage staff which should facilitate a better service for those patients.

Use this WET AMD Rapid Access form:

Download Bolton WetAMD Refrrral Form.docx
Cataract
For the past few years we have been operating a direct access scheme within the Bolton area. Accredited optometrists can bypass initial out-patients appointments and refer those suitable for surgery directly into pre assessment clinic.

This helps reduce the patient waiting time and allows more out-patient appointment space for the local ophthalmologists.

Accredited optometrists on deciding to refer perform dilated fundoscopy and counsel Bolton patients on the risks and benefits of surgery. There is currently a high sensitivity in referral from accredited practitioners which reduces inappropriate appointments for patients.

Those who wish to participate in this scheme should attend yearly accreditation meetings. If you wish to become accredited please contact a member of the committee who will advise appropriately.

Guidance is available on the service:

Download Clinical Guidelines for Referral to Bolton Cataract Clinic V52.doc

Copies of the completed referral form should be processed as follows:

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Fax: 01204 390 554 (Routine)
Tel: 01204 390 333
Post:

Cataract Co-ordinator,
Eye Unit, Royal Bolton Hospital
Minerva Road
Farnworth
Bolton
BL4 0JR

Referral pads and invoicing templates are available on request from the LOC.
- Mohammed Dawood - Send eMail
Practitioners not accredited to perform cataract pre-ops should use the GOS 18 Substitute and refer as per routine referrals.

Download Bolton GOS18 Substitute.doc
Referrals for Retinal Vein Occlusions

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

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Fax: 01204 390 554 (Routine)
Tel: 01204 390 333
NHSMail: Boh-tr.BoltonAcuteOphthalmicReferrals@nhs.net

Any CRVO or BRVO should be referred directly for assessment and an urgent referral made to the patient's GP practice for assessment for any underlying cause of RVO. The HES referral is not normally urgent. If there are any unusual features (such as the patient is unwell, optic nerve head swelling is present or the patient is of a young age, then please ring the clinic to discuss the case.

You can refer using the GOS 18 Substitute as per routine referrals above. Download Bolton GOS18 Substitute You should also advise the patient to see their GP

Alternatively a dedicated RVO referral form is available here:
Download Form Electronic Referral Form

This includes the GP referral as a 2nd page which fills automatically from page 1.
Suspect Glaucoma / OHT

Cases of raised pressure only should have the pressure repeated and only be referred if the pressure is consistently about 21mmHg on 2 separate occasions when measured by Goldmann style applanation tonometry. Details of the service and claim forms are available her

Send referrals to

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Fax: 01204 390 554 (Routine)
Tel: 01204 390 333
Safeguarding Children & Adults
Safeguarding in the Bolton Area for Children

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child, call or contact one of the following:
Learn More Vist the Keeping Children Safe in Bolton website:
Safeguarding in the Bolton Area for Adults

If you are concerned about the welfare of an Adult, call or contact one of the following:
Learn More Visit Bolton's Safeguarding Adults at Risk website

The Optical Confederation has guidance on safeguarding:
Download Guidance on Safeguarding
Confirmation of reading this OC guidance is equivalent to Level 1 training for non-professional practice staff.

The NICE link for a child maltreatment quick reference guide is:
Learn More Child Maltreatment Guidance

Online training packages for both children and adults are available from DOCET free of charge for all practitioners with GOC registration at
Learn More Enrol Children Safeguarding Level 2

Learn More Enrol Adults Safeguarding Level 2

Female Genital Mutilation

As of 31 October 2015, the Department of Health has introduced a duty for all healthcare professionals to report any case of female genital mutilation in girls

(FGM) under the age of 18 to the police. FGM is considered as child abuse, and is illegal under UK law. It is now a legal duty for healthcare professionals to report any cases they may suspect or be made aware of. For optometrists and dispensing opticians, one scenario in which FGM could come to their attention is if a child tells them that it has happened to them.

Full guidance, posters and other resources can be found on the Department of Health's website at:
Learn More FGM Mandatory Reporting in Healthcare
Strokes & TIAs

Current symptoms of an acute stroke or acute TIA require a 999 call and emergency transfer of the patient to hospital.

Where a patient has a past history of a TIA, with symptoms that have fully resolved, they should be advised to consult their GP as soon as possible.

See:

Learn More stroke
The GOS contract does not allow you to discriminate between patients by, for instance, not seeing a particular age group. If an infant presents to you for a sight test and you are uncomfortable seeing them you should ensure that you find them an alternative practice that can see them.
Low Vision

Referrals for assessment for low vision aids should go routinely to Royal Bolton Hospital

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust Fax: 01204 390 554 (Routine) Tel: 01204 390 333

The Low Vision Leaflet (LVL) for putting visually impaired people in touch with social services can be downloaded here:

Download Form Low Vision Leaflet

The address to which it should be sent is:
Independent Living Service, Adelaide Depot,
Adelaide Street,
Bolton,
BL3 3NY

Learn More Visit The directory for services aimed at helping blind or partially sighted people.

The Sightline Directory allows you to search for support services for a patient by town or postcode, and by type of service if you wish.
Learn More Sightline Directory

Bolton Referrals

Healthi Electronic Referrral System

Bolton Referrals

Referrals in general

General urgent referrals