Eye Health
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) has produced information leaflets designed to help patients recognise and treat eye conditions. The leaflets form part of the Association of Optometrists patient resources – a suite of more than 10 leaflets and videos on eye health including sight-threatening conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
Moorfields Eye Hospital also produced patient information leaflets for a wide range of eye conditions.
The College of Optometrists has published a series of new videos which show various eye conditions from the patient's point of view. You can view the videos here.
Latest waiting times for cataract first outpatient appointment and cataract surgery
In conjunction with ophthalmology services, the CCG will be providing current waiting times for cataract services, so that patients and referrers to the service have up to date information. These waiting times will be updated monthly.
Cataract surgery waiting times
The information below is based on eye care provider’s local data, which is sent to the CCG.
| Provider | Clinic type | Average number of weeks from referral received to date of first outpatient appointment | Number of weeks to cataract surgery after first outpatient appointment |
| SWBH - Birmingham Midland Eye Centre | Cataract | 5 weeks | 5 weeks |
| Midland Eye | Cataract | 4 weeks | 8-10 weeks |
| Optegra | Cataract | 1 week | 2 weeks |
| Spa Medica | Cataract | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham - Queen Elizabeth Hospital | Cataract | 6 weeks | 4 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham - Good Hope Hospital | Cataract | 14 weeks | 10 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham - Solihull Hospital | Cataract | 13 weeks | 10 weeks |
| University Hospitals Birmingham - Heartlands Hospital | Cataract | 13 weeks | Outpatients service only |
| Ramsey - Westbourne Centre | Cataract | 3 weeks | 6 weeks |
*Current waiting times for December 2019
Community Medical Ophthalmology Service
Patients registered at a GP practice in Birmingham and Solihull CCG can access the community medical ophthalmology service, being provided by Health Harmonie from a range of location across the area:
- Birmingham South & West - Lordswood Medical Group, 54 Lordswood Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9DB
- Birmingham East & North - Hawthorn Surgery, 331 Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1DL
- Solihull & Central Birmingham - Sparkhill Primary Care Centre, 856 Stratford Rd, Sparkhill, Birmingham, B11 4BW
- Solihull (Monkspath Surgery) - 27 Farmhouse Way, Shirley, Solihull B90 4EH.
HealthHarmonie can see a range of eye conditions within the community. They will endeavor to see all patients within 14 days of referral and will offer the patient a choice of time and location that is convenient for them. If HealthHarmonie receives a referral for a patient that they are unable to see within the community, they will onward refer the patient to an appropriate provider within 24 hours of its receipt.
Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)
Patients registered at a GP practice in Birmingham and Solihull CCG can access the minor eye conditions service, being provided by Primary Eyecare Heart of West Midlands
- This is an NHS-funded service available for patients with minor eye problems
- The service is for patients registered with Birmingham and Solihull GP practice
- It is for people of all ages – adults and children
- Children under 16 years must be accompanied at their appointment by an adult
- Patients will be referred to the new service by their GP, pharmacist or optician where appropriate
- Patients can self-refer into the service. Find your nearest practice in Birmingham and Solihull and the surrounding areas, which is MECS accredited.
For more information:
- Age related macular degeneration leaflet
- Blepharitis leaflet
- Cataracts leaflet
- Children’s eye health leaflet
- Dry eye leaflet
- Flashes and floaters leaflet
- Glaucoma leaflet
- Meibomian gland dysfunction leaflet
New System and assurance framework for eye health system and assurance framework for eye-health (SAFE) – Emergency and Urgent Care
The Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC) has published its Emergency and urgent care framework.
This new framework complements the Systems and Assurance Framework for Eye-health (SAFE) on cataract, glaucoma and AMD published in April 2018. It aims at promoting the right commissioning at the system level, so that there is consistency, improved levels of communication and greater integration between services. A strategic systems approach by commissioners is necessary for all these areas to ensure patients are managed by the right person in the right place at the right time.