SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 4Terms of Service
Referrals 26
1
Where a contractor, or qualified practitioner assisting the contractor in the provision of primary ophthalmic services, is of the opinion that a patient who has received a sight test pursuant to paragraph 23 or an eye examination pursuant to paragraph 24 of this Schedule—
a
shows on examination signs of injury, disease or abnormality in the eye or elsewhere which may require medical treatment, or
b
is not likely to attain a satisfactory standard of vision notwithstanding the application of corrective lenses,
the contractor must, if appropriate, and with the consent of the patient, take the steps set out in sub-paragraph (2).
2
The steps referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are—
a
in the first instance, a referral to an optometrist with qualifications appropriate to the needs of the patient;
b
if the contractor considers that a referral of the kind specified in paragraph (a) would not meet the patient’s needs, a referral to an ophthalmic hospital.
3
Where a contractor makes a referral in accordance with this paragraph, the contractor must immediately—
a
inform the patient’s general practitioner of the referral and provide details of the reason for the referral, and
b
give the patient a written statement confirming the referral has been made with details of the referral.
4
In this paragraph, “general practitioner” means a medical practitioner registered as a general practitioner.
5
A referral made by a contractor in accordance with this paragraph must be made electronically where the means of making electronic referrals are available to the contractor.