Community Optometry Services
Community Urgent Eyecare Service
All 4 of our CCG areas are commissioning CUES from Primary Eye Care Services, supported by St Helens and Warrington Eye departments. So patients with a GP in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington CCGs can access CUES. Also, participating practices can provide CUES to any patient with a GP in all areas throughout the country where CUES is commissioned. Patients can find a provider of their choice by going to the Primary Eye Care “Find a practice” page: https://primaryeyecare.co.uk/find-a-practice/
Relevant information regarding CUES in the Central Mersey area and some posters for health care settings can be found below. We also have a page for patients to access: Community Urgent Eye Care Service (CUES) – central mersey loc
If you are not currently providing CUES, but now wish to be involved, please contact us and we can assist you on the steps to achieve accreditation.
Please see below for updated guidance on managing patients where CUES is being commissioned in Central Mersey. Also, further information regarding direct referrals to our local HES, St Helens and Warrington can be accessed on this site at: https://www.centralmerseyloc.org/direct-referral/
Cataract Pre-op Assessment
Halton and St Helens CCGs commission a Cataract Pre-operation Assessment service from Primary Eyecare, which is provided by local optical practices. This is a referral refinement service, mostly following an eye test or occasionally a CUES appointment, where significant cataract is noted with typical symptoms. The patients suitability and desire for surgery is investigated, as well as ensuring there is no other co-morbid pathology requiring attentions. Where appropriate, a direct referral to a preferred provider is instigated via the Opera software, or alternatively the patient will be kept under observation. The GP receives a report for each episode via DOCMAN, including a copy of any referral forms generated.
There are more details at: https://www.centralmerseyloc.org/halton-and-st-helens-cataract-assessment-service/
Cataract Post-Operative assessments
This service is available for any patient that is seen for cataract surgery at Aintree, St. Pauls, Spa Medica, ACES and CHEC and is performed through the OPERA platform.
Futher information on this pathway can be found via the following link: Post-operative Cataract Service Guide for Practices and Practitioners – OPERA
Glaucoma Repeat Readings (GRR)
Halton and St Helens CCGs also commission a Glaucoma Repeat Readings service from Primary Eyecare, which is provided by local optical practices. If raised IOP is found at an eye test, but the optic discs appear healthy and visual fields normal, the IOP is repeated up to two more times with applanation tonometry. Where the visual fields seem to indicate an early defect, they can be repeated, as patients notoriously do better the second time around. If the IOPs remain 23mmHg and over or the fields indicate a consistent glaucomatous defect, the optometrist can decide whether to refer to HES or monitor closely until a diagnosis of glaucoma is more certain.
Please see the service specification via this link:
Cheshire and Merseyside Service Summary – Glaucoma Repeat Reading Service August 2025
Eye Care Navigation Service
The Eye Care Navigation Service is now live in all 4 of central Mersey’s localities. This service provides clinical triage for all routine and urgent referrals through opera, providing patient choice for providers once triaged. The eligibility criteria includes any Adult patient routinely or urgently referred who has a GP within the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB. The service is used to make sure that referrals are following the correct pathway and ensures all referrals contain the relevant information for the hospital eye service.
Following triage the patients will receive a text message containing a link to chose their provider of choice. If they do not have a mobile number, then this will be done via letter to the patients address.
Please use the following link for any further information including a patient leaflet which explains the choice process.
https://help.optom-referrals.org/article/748-cheshire-and-merseyside-eye-care-navigation-service
Alder Hey Post Vision Screening Service
For Schools that are under the Alder Hey Vision Screening service in Liverpool and South Sefton, a recent collaboration between local LOCs and Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has agreed a locally commissioned pathway for Optometrists in the area to review those children who haven’t met the required vision standard to pass their school screenings. Although this is for Liverpool and South Sefton schools, it is likely those on the outskirts of the central Mersey LOC border may see enquiries about this and are more than welcome to look at joining the pathway. The Pathway allows parents of those children who have been referred following their screening to be seen by a local optometrist at a convenient time for them.
For more information on the requirements for the scheme and how to get involved, please follow the following link:
Related Files