COVID-19 update
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Due to coronavirus (COVID-19) there are currently
visitor restrictions in place.
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Outpatient appointments
Outpatient appointments are still running as normal and patients
should attend as planned unless otherwise told by the Bristol Eye
Hospital team. To protect both patients and staff, the Bristol Eye
Hospital is practising strict social distancing. Patients are asked
not to arrive more than 5 minutes prior to appointments, and the
hospital will not be able to guarantee patient entry into the
hospital before planned arrival times.
High-Volume Diagnostic Assessment Service - October
2021
We have established a High-Volume Diagnostic Assessment Service
to help us see more of our glaucoma and retinopathy patients.
As well as identifying which patients would benefit from further
treatment and a face-to-face appointment, the assessment service
can also identify those who don't need an appointment at the moment
and save you a trip to hospital.
Patients will receive a letter inviting them to an appointment
at the clinic which is located at the Education and Research
Centre.
Find out more.
Emergency department
The Bristol Eye Hospital's ophthalmic Accident and Emergency
department is specifically for people with
eye-related emergencies. It is open 7 days a week
between 08:30 and 16:30 (including on public holidays).
If you feel that your problem is an accident or an
emergency, please attend the Bristol Eye
Hospital Accident and Emergency department during
the departments opening hours.
Example of emergencies are listed below:
- Chemical injury
- Penetrating injury
- Eye lid laceration
- Severe pain or loss of vision within 4 weeks
of surgery or treatment injection
- Sudden onset of double vision
- Sudden loss of vision with pain
- Sudden loss of vision without
pain
- Painful loss of vision if contact lenses
normally worn
- Pain or loss of vision after glaucoma
drainage surgery or corneal transplant surgery at any time in the
past
- Severe eye lid swelling with fever and loss
of vision or double vision
- Eye pain keeping you awake at
night
If you do not have an emergency eye problem (such as dry
eyes, itchy eyes, hay fever and cataracts), please contact your
GP.
Please do not attend the Accident and Emergency department
for the following:
- Second opinions
- Repeat prescriptions
The department does not operate a phone line for
advice. If you require telephone advice, please contact the
NHS 111 service.
If you are currently under the care of a specialist team at
the Bristol Eye Hospital, then please contact that
specialty for advice and guidance (the relevant telephone numbers
are provided on patient appointment letters).
The department is unable to issue repeat
prescriptions. If you require a repeat prescription, please
contact your GP or the specialist team at the Bristol Eye
Hospital that is managing your care
(e.g. glaucoma/cornea).
Visiting the department
When you visit us, you will be seen by an experienced Ophthalmic
Nurse Practitioner who will assess and treat your condition or
establish whether you need to be seen by an
Ophthalmologist.
We will aim to see and treat you as promptly as possible,
however please be aware that the department is very busy and any
visit can take up to 4 hours.
Please do not drive to the hospital as you may require
medication that can affect your vision.
If you are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or have
tested positive for COVID-19, please contact 111 prior to
attending.
Please be aware that the Trust operates a zero-tolerance policy
in regard to abusive and aggressive behaviour towards our staff and
you will be asked to leave should you behave in this
manner.
Information for GPs:
If you have a query about an existing outpatient, which is not
an emergency, please direct this to the subspecialty secretaries to
consult the patient's team.
