NHSE/I commission COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service, supporting patient care between ‘eye care hubs’ and ophthalmology units

17 April 2020

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists welcomes the new COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service specification (CUES). It provides clarity on the management of eye patients in the community. Together with the College of Optometrists, we have contributed to the new commissioning specification to ensure that patients’ access to care in the community is managed effectively and that only high-risk patients are appropriately referred into ophthalmology eye service.

Ophthalmologists will continue to work directly with their optometry colleagues in the community to support patient care, through advice and remote consultation.

RCOphth encourages commissioners to recognise the importance and urgency of the new commissioning specification to safeguard patients’ eye sight and to implement the recommendations as soon as possible.

View the COVID-19 Urgent Eyecare Service specification (CUES) with embedded documents 170420