Hereford's County Hospital ended walk-in urgent eye care on 3 November. Twelve Herefordshire opticians now see urgent cases free if you phone first.

The County Hospital in Hereford no longer takes walk-in patients with urgent eye problems. Since Tuesday 3 November, sudden eye trouble in Herefordshire has been handled by local opticians instead.

Wye Valley NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, announced the change on 27 October. The hospital’s walk-in provision moved to the Community Urgent Eyecare Service, known as CUES. It is free on the NHS, but it works by appointment, so you phone the practice first.

What CUES covers

The trust lists these problems as ones to take to a CUES optician:

  • a sudden change in your vision
  • flashes or floaters
  • minor eye injuries
  • eye pain or soreness, including from a minor injury
  • other eye problems that have come on recently

You do not have to use your usual optician. Primary Eyecare Services, which runs CUES for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, says the service is for patients registered with a GP in either county. It is not an eye test. Long-term conditions already being monitored, such as cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, stay with your usual optician or the hospital eye service.

When you call, the optician will give you self-care advice, book you in (in person or remotely), prescribe medication, or refer you to the hospital eye service if needed.

The opticians in Herefordshire taking urgent cases

These are the Herefordshire practices listed for urgent and minor eye services on the CUES practice finder on 12 November.

Town Practice Address Phone
Hereford BBR Optometry Marbury House, 38 St Owen Street, HR1 2PR 01432 265030
Hereford Boots Opticians 24 Maylord Orchard, Gomond Street, HR1 2DA 01432 352860
Hereford Specsavers 12 Maylord Street, HR1 2DS 01432 353464
Hereford Vision Express 7-8 High Street, HR4 9AA not listed on the finder
Bromyard Andrew Jelley Optometrist 34-36 High Street, HR7 4AE 01885 488259
Kington Scotts Opticians 16 High Street, HR5 3AX 01544 231330
Ledbury Boots Opticians 9 The Homend, HR8 1BN 01531 635126
Ledbury Specsavers 3 The Homend, HR8 1BN 01531 633384
Leominster Specsavers 25 West Street, HR6 8EP 01568 619340
Ross-on-Wye Ashton & Daniels Unit 3, Cantilupe Court, Cantilupe Road, HR9 7AN 01989 562173
Ross-on-Wye Scotts Opticians Ross-on-Wye Community Hospital, Alton Street, HR9 5AD 01989 567244
Ross-on-Wye Specsavers 13 Gloucester Road, HR9 5BU 01989 564460

Opening days vary by practice. The finder lists three of the twelve as open on Sundays: Vision Express in Hereford, and Specsavers in Leominster and in Ross-on-Wye. Most of the others close on Sundays, and several open only on Saturday mornings.

Patients in Powys use the Welsh Eyecare Service instead. The trust says to find a Welsh Eyecare Service practice by searching for ophthalmology on its website.

What the hospital says

Tom Morgan-Jones, deputy chief medical officer at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said the change would “make it easier for people to access this service closer to home and avoid unnecessary hospital attendances”.

He added: “If you have a recent onset or urgent eye problem, such as a sudden change in vision, flashes or floaters, minor eye injuries, eye pain/soreness including minor injuries, please phone your local Community Urgent Eyecare Service.”

What it means for you

  • Do not walk in to the County Hospital with a sore or red eye. Phone one of the practices above first.
  • It is free. You do not pay for a CUES appointment, and it does not have to be with your regular optician.
  • A serious eye injury is still an emergency. The trust says to call NHS 111 or go to the Emergency Department at the County Hospital if you need urgent medical attention.