The Minor Eye Care Service (MECS)
Date issued: May 2024
Review date: May 2026
Ref: A-387/NM/REI/The minor eye care service MECS v3
PDF: The minor eye care service final May 2024 v3.pdf [pdf] 289KB
Introduction
The service provides urgent eye assessments for patients complaining of recent / sudden onset of symptoms due to specific minor eye conditions.
The service provides care closer to home, avoiding a trip to the hospital for patients who do not require hospital eye care but need to be seen by an accredited Eye Care Practitioner.
This service is provided by University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and local MECS accredited Eye Care Practitioners.
What conditions may be seen by MECS?
-
Red eye or eyelids with no reduced vision
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Dry, or gritty, or itchy and uncomfortable eyes including ingrowing eyelashes
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Mild eye pain (on a scale of 1-5): 1-3 getting better with pain killers
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Irritation and inflammation of the eye
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Superficial foreign body in the eye
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Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye
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Recent flashes or floaters for less than 3 months with no loss of vision and / or no obstruction across vision
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Recent loss or distortion of vision for more than 48 hours and less than 3 months with no pain
What assessments will the MECS Practitioners make?
The MECS Practitioner will:
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Take a history of your present problem, any past eye and medical history, medications, allergies and family history of eye disease.
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Assess your vision and examine your eyes.
They may also use drops to enlarge the pupils. These may affect your vision for a few hours (possibly up to 6 hours for some people).
You are advised NOT to drive to or from your appointment with the MECS Practitioner and NOT to undertake other hazardous activities whilst your vision is still blurred from drops.
What happens next?
The MECS Practitioner will:
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Treat, reassure and give advice to you when the symptoms are due to a common, non-threatening sight condition. They will either discharge you or book a review (as appropriate).
or
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Refer you to the hospital eye service for further assessment and / or treatment. The Practitioner will explain why the referral is necessary and what will happen next.
Patients’ records and data protection
Your records will be stored in compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations). Your personal details will not be shared with any other groups or individuals without your permission.
Patient Satisfaction
You will be asked to complete a short satisfaction survey at the end of the MECS visit. Your feedback is valuable and will help us continually monitor and develop the service.
How do I book an appointment with MECS?
Please call to arrange an appointment.
Please take your glasses and a list of your current medication with you to the appointment.
Accredited MECS Practitioners, Devon
|
Practice Name |
Address |
Telephone Number |
Opening Times |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Angus McPhie Opticians |
7 Market Street, Tavistock |
01822 612863 |
Tuesday to Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday: 9am to 12.30pm |
|
Boots Opticians |
Drake Circus Shopping Centre, Plymouth |
01752 666546 |
Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday: 8:30am to 6:30pm Thursday: 8:30am to 8pm Sunday: 10:30am to 4:30pm |
|
Boots Opticians |
82 West Street, Tavistock |
01822 612076 |
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 5:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Newsome Opticians |
Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge |
01752 691107 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians |
2 Meavy Way, Crownhill |
01752 772116 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm Saturday: 9:00am to 12:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians |
62 Ridgeway, Plympton |
01752 345269 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm Saturday: 9am to 12:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Nigel Gainey Opticians |
109 Victoria Road, St Budeaux |
01752 366022
|
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday: 9am to 1pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Specsavers |
3 West Street, Tavistock |
01822 619910
|
Monday, Friday and Saturday: 9am to 5:30pm Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 8pm Wednesday: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Sunday: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm |
|
Specsavers |
152-154 Armada Way, Plymouth |
01752 253434 |
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 6:30pm Sunday: 10:30am to 4:30pm |
|
Specsavers |
39-41 The Broadway, Plymouth |
01752 402241
|
Monday to Saturday: 8:45am to 6pm Sunday: 10:30am to 4:30pm |
Cornwall
|
Practice Name |
Address |
Telephone Number |
Opening Times |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Keirl |
The Parade, Liskeard |
01579 346694 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm Saturday: 8:30am to 12:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians |
101 Fore Street, Saltash |
01752 847477 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm Saturday: 9am to 12:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Noakes, Habermehl & Kerr Opticians |
49 Fore Street, Callington |
01579 382345 |
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5:30pm Saturday: 9am to 12:30pm Sunday: Closed |
|
Specsavers |
27-29 Lower Fore Street, Saltash |
01752 850120 |
Monday - Saturday: 8:45am to 6pm Sunday: 10:00am to 4:30pm |
|
Specsavers |
11 Broad Street, Launceston |
01566 774354 |
Monday, Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5:30pm Tuesday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm |
|
Thompsons Opticians |
4a Pike Street, Liskeard |
01579 343348 |
Monday to Thursday: 9am to 5pm Friday: 9am to 6pm Saturday: 9am to 2pm |
