Urgent Care Department
Date issued: September 2023
Review date: September 2025
Ref: C-546/MS/Ophthalmology/Urgent Care Department
PDF: Urgent Care Department final September 2023.pdf [pdf] 69KB
Information for Patients
TRIAGE
Patients with sight threatening conditions will be given priority
If you have an emergency eye problem please telephone 01752 439330 between 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 1pm Saturday and Sunday
You will be assessed on the phone by an Ophthalmic Trained Nurse. The Nurse will take details from you and either give you an appointment time to attend, refer you to your own GP, Minor Eye Care Service (MECS) or give self-help advice.
If an appointment is needed, you will be told if it is with the Urgent Care Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
Walk-In Triage
Your details will be taken by a clerical officer.
You will then be assessed by an Ophthalmic Trained Nurse.
The Nurse will either give you an appointment time to return, refer you to your GP or give you self-help advice.
If you are given an appointment, you will be told if you are to be seen by the Urgent Care Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
If possible, please always phone for an appointment.
Staff Working in the Department
1. Nurse Practitioners
These are Ophthalmic trained Nurses who have undergone further specialist training.
A Nurse Practitioner can assess, treat and discharge patients with certain eye conditions
Walk-In Triage
Your details will be taken by a clerical officer.
You will then be assessed by an Ophthalmic Trained Nurse.
The Nurse will either give you an appointment time to return, refer you to your GP or give you self-help advice.
If you are given an appointment, you will be told if you are to be seen by the Urgent Care Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
If possible, please always phone for an appointment.
2.Urgent Care Doctor
If you see a Nurse Practitioner, you will probably not need to see the If you see a Nurse Practitioner, you will probably not need to see the
The Doctor sees patients with conditions that the Nurse Practitioners are not trained to treat.
The Urgent Care Doctor might request a second opinion from one of his/her senior colleagues.
Review Appointments
After seeing the Nurse Practitioner or Doctor, you may be asked to make a follow up appointment.
Out of Hours Service
After 6pm Monday to Friday please attend Emergency Department and after 1pm Saturday and Sunday.
Patient may request a Doctor appointment instead of Nurse Practitioner after triage
