Referral pathways improved in Coventry and Warwickshire

NHS Coventry and Warwickshire has redesigned its referral pathway for ophthalmology treatment to an electronic system and hub-based approach to deliver services.

Previously, pathways differed across Coventry and Warwickshire, patient choice was limited in same cases and GPs managed referral from optometrists.

The new system enabled direct referral from optometry practices to secondary care and meant patients were referred to the appropriate provision on the first occasion.

An ophthalmology coordination service was created to receive all referrals from optometrists and to identify suitable options for the patient.

The service then contacted patients to offer them a choice according to their own priorities and the referral was then sent to the provider using the national electronic referral system.