Electronic Eye Referral System EeRS
The Electronic Eye Referral System (EeRS) is now live.
EeRS first went live across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) on Wednesday 1st November 2023, the first area to launch as part of an NHS Midlands led regional implementation programme.
EeRS is a secure digital platform that enables optometrists to refer patients electronically for eye conditions that require further investigation or treatment.
As of the end of January 2024, two thirds of Optometry practices across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are now live, making referrals and accessing Advice and Guidance via EeRS.
Benefits for patients and staff working in optometry
This new system will improve the referral process, enable information to be shared more easily and support better communication between the different services.
EeRS will bring many benefits to both patients and optometrists, such as:
- Faster and more convenient referrals, with no need for email, post, or fax in future.
- The ability to attach documents and images (including eye scans) to the referral.
- Reduced burden on GP practice staff who currently process referrals from optometrists.
- Improved communication and feedback between primary and secondary care, with access to a patients’ referral status and outcomes.
- GP practices will start to see a significant decrease in administrative processes surrounding eye care referrals.
- Referrals from the Optometrists will be sent directly to RAS and TRAQS via EeRS.
- GP practices will not be required to process eye care referrals from Optometrists sent via EeRS
- Reduced duplication of work across the system
- On completion of triage by the chosen provider, the referral will be converted to a booking or returned directly to the Optometrist for additional information.
- GP practices will be informed of the referral and outcome by email, they will receive a copy of the referral letter which can be added to the patient record.
This information is for Optometrists working within Shopshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) only
- If you haven’t already benefited from using the EeRS system, click the following link to 'Register your interest': EeRS Registration of Interest.
- Follow the step-by-step guide.
- It is recommended to provide your NHS.net practice email address in order to receive PDF copies of outcome letter.
- Once you have registered your interest, you will receive an automated acknowledgement email from Cinapsis.
Eligible patients
- EeRS should only be used for patients with a GP in STW.
- For patients with a GP outside of STW, the referral should be sent directly to the patient’s GP to process.
Patient details on EeRS
- Confirm the patients details on EeRS before the patient leaves the practice
- EeRS will link to the NHS spine to confirm the patient details.
- If the patient has registered at the Optometry practice with different details the patient will not be linked and the referral cannot be made.
- The referral can always be saved as a draft and completed later in the day.
Urgent GP referrals
- All urgent referrals to GP, regardless of the need for ophthalmology input or not, should be sent directly to the GP using Form B with a clinically appropriate urgency.
GP only referrals
- Continue to refer these patients directly to the GP using Form B or equivalent.
Joint GP / Ophthalmology referrals
- Referrals that require input from both ophthalmology and GP, should be referred via EeRS only.
- Select the appropriate hospital clinic for the eye condition and include clearly in your referral 'Also needs GP action'
Further information for Optometrists can be found by visiting the Shropshire LOC Web pages,
- EeRS High level SOP – Gives an overview of the EeRS system and its function within STW.
- Business Continuity Plan – Outlines the escalation process should an EeRS user become aware of an issue.
For more information about our EeRS partner, Cinapsis, please visit www.cinapsis.com.