Minor Eye Conditions Service (CUES)

Overview

The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) examination will provide a timely assessment of the needs of a patient presenting with an  eye condition.

This will be undertaken by an accredited practitioner within suitably equipped premises who will manage the patient  appropriately and safely. Management will be maintain within the primary care setting for as many patient as possible, thus avoiding  unnecessary referrals to hospital services. Where referral to secondary care is required, it will be made within agreed protocols to a  suitable specialist within appropriate urgency.

Patients can self-refer and will be signposted from GPs, pharmacists, A&E, Hospital Eye  casualty telephone triage, other optometrists or from a Single Point of Access/Hub where present.

Service Information

Accreditation
WOPEC MECS (Distance Learning and Practice Skills Demonstration)
Safeguarding Children and Adults Level 1 and 2
Enhanced DBS 

In some commissioned services there may be additional local requirements.

Purpose of the Service
Using the skills of primary care optical practices to triage, manage and prioritise patients presenting with an eye condition, patient  care will be improved by:

• Reduction in unnecessary referrals to eye casualty clinics thus supporting the hospital eye service to manage ophthalmology  capacity
• More cost-effective care
• Speedier access to care
• Care closer to home in a more convenient setting
• Easier access for patients through self-referral
• Retention of patients in primary care where possible
• Reduction in antibiotic prescribing

Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion:
Loss of vision including transient loss
Ocular pain
Differential diagnosis of red eye
Systemic disease affecting the eye
Foreign body and emergency contact lens removing (not by the  fitting practitioner)
Dry eye
Blepharitis
Epiphora (Watery Eye)
Trichiasis (In-growing Eyelashes)
Differential diagnosis of lumps and bumps in the vicinity of eye
Flashes/floaters
Retinal lesions

Exclusion:
Patients cannot be treated by the MEC service it is possible  that they may attend the service with a condition which  is excluded for treatment but requires assessment and  onward referral to an appropriate eye service. This patient  assessment by the MEC service is classed as an episode of  care and payment will be made.

Help and Support

Contact your local Clinical Lead or through the Blue Bubble button or email hello@referral.support