Accessing the Community Urgent Eyecare Service in Leeds

Give your feedback about the Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) which is in review.

CUES helps people with urgent eye care issues within primary care get the help they need, through consultation and treatment by a local eye care specialist, if required.

The Leeds office of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB in Leeds) is keen to hear about people’s experiences of using this service. This will inform future development of the service. Please highlight any areas that need addressing to make sure the process works for everyone.

Complete the CUES survey online

Closing: Sunday 15 December 2024

About the service changes

From Friday 1 November 2024 people can no longer present to a participating community optical practice without an appointment. The service can only be accessed by calling the single point of access telephone number, 0300 303 4922 free of charge, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.

How the service works from 1 November 2024

• When contacting the service, callers will go through a triage process and be asked some questions to confirm that their eyecare issue is eligible to be treated under the service.
• If eligible, the caller will be offered either a remote consultation over the phone, video call with an eyecare professional, or a face-to-face appointment at a local optometrist in the community. Appointments are typically available, where required, from 9am – 5pm, Monday-Saturday.
• Those not eligible to be treated by the service will be given information, you’ll be given information about other options such as a community pharmacy, your GP practice, or an optician outside the service.

The current contract for the CUES service in Leeds ends on 31 March 2025 and a new contract will begin from 1 April 2025.

Feedback on how people access the CUES service, and their experiences of using the service, will help inform the new contract and help to improve the care people with urgent eyecare issues in Leeds receive.

Find out more on the Leeds Health and Care Partnership website: Changes to CUES

If you have any specific questions about the changes to the service, please email them to wyicb-leeds.commsinvolve@nhs.net