Children
Children and the HES
Specialist optometrist at Russells Hall Nicky Ferguson has produced a hospital perspective on referral and management of children’s vision:
Children and the Hospital Eye Service
The LOC feel it is very worthwhile having this information to inform our judgement and decision making. We must stress that this document doesn’t amount to a local protocol. Any optometrist who wants to look after their amblyopes/squints can still do so. They are still free to use their clinical evidence based judgement informed by guidance elsewhere. There is also no requirement under GOS to perform cycloplegic refraction before referring every child. We are still free to see young children for sight tests even with a local screening service with a robust design operating. Our profession’s guidance indicates we should be encouraging parents to bring their children for eye tests as soon as possible.
We hope it gives practitioners the confidence to prescribe for children prior to referring. It should also help decide at what level of hyperopia to prescribe where there is reduced vision, as well as what constitutes reduced vision. The guidance also includes contact details for Nicky, so feel free to contact her with any queries.
Miraflex and Special Needs
The LOC consider that GOS provision is insufficent and inappropriate for Special Needs. We continue to lobby for the CCG to commision the LOCSU Community Eye Care Pathway for Adults and Young People with Learning Disabilities.
Russells Hall have asked the LOC to complile a list of practices that stock Miraflex frames (or equivalent), and those that are happy to see older (typically 7 years old and above) children with special needs who have completed any hospital treatment for sight tests under GOS. It should be noted that, in the case of sight tests, this list is indicating a preference only, and doesn’t indicate a refusal to test or any implied breach of GOS contract(s).
This website is not patient facing, so if you want to give a patient a list please click here to download the list to print.
| Practice Name | Full Address | Telephone | Miraflex Stocked? | Happy to see older special needs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickford Opticians | 177 High Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 3BU | 01384 77326 | Yes | Yes |
| Cacoullis Opticians | 68 Halesowen Road, Halesowen, , West Midlands B62 9BB | 0121 422 3356 | Yes | Yes |
| Specsavers Opticians | 13 Castle Street, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 1LF | 01384 214 851 | Equivalent | Yes |
| AJ Moore | 264 Castle Street, Dudley, , DY1 1LQ | 01384 252903 | No | Ask to be booked with Mr Thompson |
| R T Knight | 8 Dudley Street, Sedgley, Dudley, West Midlands DY3 1SB | 01902 883 260 | Yes | Yes |
| Chapman & Myers | 14 Hagley Mall, Cornbow Centre, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AJ | 0121 585 7065 | Can be ordered | Yes |
| Boots Opticians | Boots Opticians 2 Hagley Street, Halesowen B63 3AS | 0121 550 1610 | Equivalent | Yes |
| R A Lawley | 3-3a The Cross, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 9JA | 01384 271888 | Yes | Yes |
| Docker & Wilson | 84 High Street, Stourbridge, , West Midlands DY8 1ED | 01384 394300 | Can supply | Yes |
| Robert Hill Opticians | 39 High Street, Lye, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY9 8LF | 01384 422270 | Yes | Yes |
| J&S Bangay Opticians | 60 Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 3QG | 01384 396 585 | Yes | Yes |
| 4 Sight Eyecare Centre | 15 Churchill Shopping Centre, , Dudley, West Midlands DY2 7BL | 01384 242444 | No | No |
| Pinder & Moore | Mill House, 58 Market Street, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 9LE | 01384 274426 | Yes | Yes |
| John Hamer Opticians | 11 Wordsley Green Shopping Centre, Wordsley, Stourbridge DY8 5PU | 01384 401201 | Yes | Yes |
| David Wright Opticians | 88 Halesowen Rd, Netherton, Dudley, West Midlands DY2 9PS | 01384 238084 | No | No |
This list will be updated as new information is received, and if you want your practice to be added or the information changed please contact us.
We would also encourage practices that are happy to see special needs patients to register on the Seeability website. Below is a direct link to register.