Salford Referrals
Opera Electronic Referrral System
All referrals by practitioners within Greater Manchester for a patient with a Greater Manchester GP should be made through the Opera electronic referral platform. This will route the referral appropriately and also enables patient demographic and 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 only if Opera 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 Salford 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
Routine referrals that are not part of an enhanced service (e.g. cataract, ocular hypertension) generally go via the GP.
Remember that with routine referrals 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.
Patients already under careIn 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.
Routine referrals for patients outside Salford should use the referral route for their area – check the relevant area referral page.
An electronic GOS18 template is available here for those without access to Healthi:
Learn More Electronic GOS18 template
- Emergency Eye referrals
If you feel a patient needs to be seen urgently you can refer to MREH or Bolton:
You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital Emergency Eye Department (EED) 08.00-20.00 every day including Bank Holidays.
Tel: 0161 276 5597/5599 (advice only – see below)
You should give a referral letter to the patient to take with them.
Please note that the old EEC and ARC departments are now combined and are called the Emergency Eye Department as of May 2016. An updated referral guidance chart is here:
Optometrists can no longer ring and get patients directly booked in; the patient will have to attend the EED with their referral letter & wait to be triaged in line with everyone else. However optometrists can still ring for advice – and MREH would prefer they did that to ensure that patients are not making any unnecessary journeys and are seen in a timely fashion.
Tel: 0161 276 5597/5599. There is now always an Ophthalmologist present in EED.
Emergency macula referrals can be made direct to the EMAC service. You should phone to make the patient an appointment.
EMAC
Tel: 0161 701 3419
Fax: 0161 701 0262
NHSMail: mft.macular@nhs.netIf faxing or emailing, then phone after sending to confirm receiptA dedicated EMAC referral form is available here:
Download Form EMAC Referral Fillable Form.pdf
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01204 390 333
Fax Number: 01204 390 051 (Urgent)
NHSMail: Boh-tr.BoltonAcuteOphthalmicReferrals@nhs.netIf you feel a patient requires to be seen urgently you can phone the Bolton Eye Unit on 01204 390 333 and ask for advice.
- Wet AMD
The referral criteria for the Wet AMD service are a less than 3 month history of any of the following:
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• Visual loss.
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• Spontaneously reported distortion.
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• Onset of scotoma (or blurred spot) in central vision.
The vision should be better than 6/96 in the affected eye.
If your patient meets the criteria for potential wet AMD treatment, then you can refer to the MREH Emergency Macula Service (EMAC) or to Bolton.
EMAC
Tel: 0161 701 3419
Fax: 0161 701 0262
NHSMail: mft.macular@nhs.netIf faxing or emailing, then phone after sending to confirm receiptA dedicated EMAC referral form is available here:
Download Form EMAC Referral Fillable Form.pdf
A generic WetAMD referral form for use with referral pathways outside the S&T area (a Word doc) can be downloaded here:
Download Form WetAmd July 2015.doc
This can be filled electronically or printed. To edit the form, if you wish to add your practice details as a template, choose 'Tools' or 'Review' then 'Unprotect'. In protected mode use TAB to move between fields.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 01204 390 333
Fax Number: 01204 390 051 (Urgent)
NHSMail: Boh-tr.BoltonAcuteOphthalmicReferrals@nhs.netEmail contacts:
You should always phone to request confirmation of receipt of a faxed referral.
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Ann Haughton - ann.haughton@boltonft.nhs.uk
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Wendy Dawson - wendy.dawson@boltonft.nhs.uk
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
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- Cataract
Cataract referral is via the extended services commissioned by the CCGs. For further information see the Extended services page of the S&T website:
The referral form can be downloaded here:
Download Form Salford Cataract Referral FormAvailable providers are:
Royal Bolton Hospital Minerva Road
Farnworth
Bolton BL4 0JROptegra Manchester Eye Hospital One Didsbury Point
2 The Avenue (off The Boulevard)
Didsbury
Manchester, M20 2EU
Tel: 0207 509 4186
Fax: 0207 022 1651 http://www.optegra.com/our-hospital/manchesterSpa Medica Citygate Central Blantyre Street
Castlefield
Manchester M15 4SQ
Tel: 0161 838 0870
Fax: 0161 835 1704 www.spamedica.co.ukWarrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Ophthalmology Primary Care Clinic
Lovely Lane
Warrington WA5 1QG
Fax No: 01925 662209 (If faxing the referral a hard copy is also required)Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Ophthalmology New Appointments
Wigan Lane
Wigan
Lancashire
WN1 2NN
Fax No: 01942 773308Scanned Referrals can also be sent via email to wwl-tr.GPReferrals@nhs.net, but only from another NHS Mail account.
Referrals to the Royal Albert Edward will have the assessment and pre-op in Wigan but the actual surgery will be carried out at Leigh Infirmary. - Referrals for Retinal Vein Occlusions
CRVO and BRVO with haemorrhaging at the fovea should be sent urgently to the MREH Emergency Macula Service (EMAC).
EMAC
Tel: 0161 701 3419
Fax: 0161 701 0262
NHSMail: mft.macular@nhs.netIf faxing or emailing, then phone after sending to confirm receiptA dedicated EMAC referral form is available here:
Download Form EMAC Referral Fillable Form.pdf
MREH guidelines say that other BRVOs should be referred to be seen within 4 weeks. If this is via the GP then you must check with the surgery that the referral has been processed appropriately.
Any CRVO or BRVO should be also be referred directly 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.
A generic RVO referral form is available here:
Download Form Generic RVO Referral Form
This includes the GP referral as a 2nd page which fills automatically from page 1.
- Community Orthoptic Services
Orthoptic referrals can be made to the Salford community orthoptic service. Complete the referral in Healthi and then print and post to:
Orthoptic DepartmentSalford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Salford Care Organisation
3rd Floor Sandringham House
Windsor Street
Salford
M5 4DG
NHSMail: orthoptics.salford@nhs.net(only send from an NHSMail address) - Suspect Glaucoma / Repeat Measures
OHT In cases of raised IOP in the absence of any other signs of glaucoma the pressures should be repeated on one or two occasions, as required, using Goldmann or Perkins tonometry as per the extended service commissioned by the CCGs.
For further information see the Extended services page of the S&T website:
Learn More Electronic GOS18 template
Glaucoma Where there are other signs of glaucoma, with or without raised IOP, the patient should be referred routinely in the normal way. Acute closed angle glaucoma is an urgent referral.
- Safeguarding Children & Adults in Salford
Safeguarding in the Salford Area for Children (0-18 years)
If you have concerns that a child or young person is at risk of or being abused or neglected you can contact the Salford Safeguarding Children's Board to report your concern:
Tel: 0161 603 4500(Bridge Partnership - Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm)
Tel: 0161 794 8888 (Outside office hours and weekends and public holidays- Emergency Duty Team)
http://www.partnersinsalford.org/sscb/contactus.htm
Safeguarding in the Salford Area for Adults If you have concerns that an adult is at risk of or is being abused/neglected you can report your concern on the telephone numbers below.
Salford Adult Social Care Contact Team
Tel: 0161 631 4777 Email: worriedaboutanadult@salford.gov.ukAdult Social Care Emergency Duty Team (out of hours)
Tel: 0161 794 8888 4.30pm to 8.00am weekdays and 24 hours over weekends and bank holidaysCCG Lead Nurse Adult Safeguarding
Tel: 0161 212 5657 http://www.partnersinsalford.org/as-contacts.htm
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.
Learn More See Stokes - Low Vision
The Low Vision Leaflet (LVL) for putting visually impaired people in touch with Salford social services can be downloaded here.
Download Form Low Vision LeafletIt should be sent to:
Adult Health & Social Care Team
1st Floor Unity House
Chorley Road
Swinton
M27 5AWInformation is available from:
Visual Impairment Sensory Team
Salford Health & Social Care Division
Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
Burrows House
10 Priestley Road
Yardley Business park
Salford
M28 2LY
Tel: 0161 631 4777
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