Moorfields Urgent referral if not in London?

[RegularNC]

Hi
DH has very serious corneal abrasions and areas of damage that are more severe than a simple abrasion, following an accident yesterday.

He’s due to go to a local hospital clinic today and ultimately may need surgery.

He currently has only 5 % vision in that eye which if extremely worrying.

Local hospital doctor did not instil confidence.

Does anyone know if he can ask for a referral out of area or is that only for non emergencies? I had a little look at the NHS patient choice leaflet but am not sure of his rights.

Any advice please ?

TIA

PS we are in Sussex so could feasibly travel for appointments

Call them and ask? Not being trite but i bet they have lots of enquiries of this ilk.

Could you afford a private, initial consultation?

Moorfields have an a&e if it's urgent

Hi, I realise I can ring them to ask but I wanted to know his rights in case I get a job's worth the phone who wants the department not to become too busy with extra referrals...

He's been to A&E already- this is for the follow up.

Thanks

Have you been seen in ophthalmology yet or just A+E?

If you haven't made it to ophthalmology yet I wouldn't panic already as basically all he has had is emergency 'eye clinic will see you in the morning'.

We did not get a referral to Moorfields despite only being a couple of hours from London and DH having years of complex eye problems.

Hi, I realise I can ring them to ask but I wanted to know his rights in case I get a job's worth the phone who wants the department not to become too busy with extra referrals

In fairness, i was thinking that myself after i replied.

Who would you ask to speak to?

Anna, so sorry to hear your DH has had problems. Has he ever REQUESTED Moorfields? I’m not sure it would be offered in most cases but I’m trying to establish if it’s within his rights.

He’s seen an ophthalmologist at A&E but he wasn’t great. Nurse was better!

I think I will ring Moorfields private at this stage and try to find out if after care is critical within first 48hrs as dh is now saying he’ll just stay local for now. But then he’s an eternal optimist...

We specifically requested Moorfields.

There are many brilliant eye departments around the country that are not Moorfields but ours was not one.

You need to be proactive and don't wait for the NHS to come to you.

After a lot of lost vision we had an inheritance and spent it on Moorfields private.

I just took an outside of London family member there and they gave her an appointment. But was before the virus

I’m so sorry Anna. That sounds awful.

That’s interesting, Rose.

The local clinic is apparently a new specialist department within a hospital So I’m hoping they’ll deal with the A&E follow up appointment properly today.

Dh was absolutely adamant about not pushing for Moorfields until after this appointment. I pushed the issue as far as I could without arguing about it.

I think I will have to do some research behind his back And present him with my findings as as he’s too much of an optimist to Be proactive about it himself.

However, if I said I’ve spoken to X and they said Y and can see you at such and such time, he’d probably go along with it.

Bloody rogue capital letters... grrr iPhone!

Hi OP

I’ve had issues with my son, whereabouts are you? Try and see Luke Herbert he works out of Moorfields but also West Sussex.

I’m in Sussex.

My Dad has had Moorfields appointments (NHS not private) but at his local hospital. The Moorfields consultants etc came to his local hospital to run a clinic (not just to see my Dad).
Maybe you can find out if Moorfields run a clinic at a hospital near you.

Moorfuelds has it at least had a walk in pre COVID

My neighbours just presented themselves at Moorfields when they were dissatisfied with the local emergency eye clinic and she had the rest of her treatment with them ( we are In Kent ) .

We are in Surrey and I too would always push for moorfields. I'd subtly investigate and just tell Dh, like it was a given!

Yes, just go and be prepared to wait. Not sure how they are managing A&E with covid but if it's like other emergency departments it may be quieter than usual?

So sorry your DH had an accident, it sounds distressing.

How's he doing OP? Did you make it to moorfields?