Emergency opticians appointment cost

Golden_Glow90

I require an emergency appointment for a suspected ulcer. NHS 111 don't want me to use A&E (which is fair enough) and have told me to book an emergency appointment with my optician. Specsavers say on their website that eye care appointments are free as they are funded by the NHS but they don't have any appointments available until the end of next week. Boots opticians have ageeed that I need seeing today but will charge me £25 for the appointment. Obviously I'm going to pay because I need to be seen but can they do this? I'm not not to go to A&E because they are extremely busy but last time I had an ulcer, the optician sent me there anyway where I get free eye care. Can anyone help with this? I don't know why eye care is so difficult. If I have any other problem I book with a GP and job done.

Robin9

Use the emergency clinic at the eye hospital. TODAY

rach_k

If there's an eye hospital near you, try ringing them. We're lucky to have one with an eye A&E. Or could you just turn up at Specsavers? They managed to see both of my kids when they messed up and only booked one appointment so they must have some wiggle room.

unforeseen

I don't understand why you need to go to an optician. They are not empowered or trained to give medical treatment or advice.

It needs to be some sort of medical establishment, be it A&E of whatever description, GP or drop in centre.

All the optician can do is what they did last time and tell you to go to A&E.

Golden_Glow90

The eye clinic at the local hospital only accepts referrals from either GP or optician. GP says they don't have the equipment to look at my eye so I need to see an optician and NHS 111 said I shouldn't go to A&E as it's not an emergency. Should I go there anyway then? Last time I went to A&E but only because my optician told me to go and he phoned ahead to make them aware which meant I didn't have to be assessed, I went straight to the eye doctor from A&E.

Golden_Glow90

And the optician I'm seeing is an ophthalmologist who is trained to diagnose and give medical advice but as they can't prescribe that's why they referred me to the hospital last time (last time I didn't have to pay as I got an appointment on the day with Specsavers).

elsien

Does your GP have a weekend out of hours service that could refer you to the eye hospital?

unforeseen

You are not seeing an opthalmologist as they are full blown doctors who can prescribe and perform surgery. You won't find one of those in an opticians.

You will probably be seeing an opthalmic medical practitioner who who will look at your problem and then tell you to go to a&e as the most they can do is refer you to an opthalmologist. A referral to A&E from one of them may fast-track you through.

Golden_Glow90

So either way I'm likely to spend hours in A&E? Does anyone know of eye clinics where you can book an appointment?

Golden_Glow90

My GP does have out of hours but they won't refer. They just told me to see an optician.

teddysmum

I had a problem with floater and having seen an optician who found another problem (possible future retinal tear), but waiting for a eye clinic appointment ( a few months away), couldn't get an optician appointment after a very large floater appeared overnight.


My GP advised ringing the emergency eye clinic (at the hospital) and the sister I spoke to demanded that Specsavers see me immediately.


I got the appointment that afternoon and was referred as more urgent,getting a clinic appointment next day (they called just as I got home).


Ring the hospital switchboard and ask to be transferred to the emergency eye clinic, where you will get advice, referral or immediate treatment , if needed.