About Us

Choose & Book

Choose and Book is a national service that, for the first time combines electronic booking and a choice of place, date and time for first outpatient appointments. It revolutionises the old booking system, by allowing patients to choose their initial hospital appointment, and book it on the spot in the surgery or later on the phone or via the internet.

For more information visit the Choose and Book website

Information for GPs

We want to help you and your practice make the most of Choose and Book and the services offered by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We produce a regular newsletter featuring updates on services provided as well as keeping you up to date with latest national developments.


November 2008 Newsletter - Focus on Ophthalmology

At Newcastle Hospitals we are very keen that we are able to sort out patients’ ophthalmology problems as quickly as possible.  In recent years we have developed many sub-specialist services (squint, glaucoma etc) run by specific consultants.  In addition, dedicated pathways have been set up (such as for cataract) to ensure that patients are seen quickly and receive high quality treatment.

It is essential that patients are booked into the correct service.  If this does not happen then there is a high likelihood that the patient will have to be referred on to another consultant.  This may delay the patient’s treatment and could result in an additional New Patient charge.

The most important services are:

 Presentation Clinic Type  Typical Service 
 Cataract Cataract  Cataract
 Glaucoma (includes raised IOP, disc cupping, field loss) Glaucoma  Glaucoma diagnostic
 Strabismus (squint, double vision) Adult Strabismus  Adult strabismus
 Lid problems (entropion, ptosis etc)  Oculoplastic / Orbit / Lacrimal  Lid clinic
 Lacrimal problems  Oculoplastic / Orbit / Lacrimal  Lacrimal clinic
 Minor lid (cysts etc)  Oculoplastic / Orbit / Lacrimal  Nurse led cyst
 Diabetic retinopathy  Diabetic Medical Retina  Diabetic

Some services available only at the RVI

Note that some services (YAG laser for capsule thickening, low vision aids) are only available at the RVI.

Please do not use the Clinic Type “Not otherwise specified” unless none of the more specific clinic types appear appropriate.  “Not otherwise specified” should only be used for non-specific symptoms such as unexplained visual loss, other visual symptoms, ocular discomfort etc.

Children's and Adolescents Services

All children must be booked through a CLINIC TYPE in the SPECIALTY “Children’s and Adolescent services” (not the SPECIALTY “Ophthalmology”).
 Presentation Clinic Type  Typical Service 
 Definite squint or amblyopia Ophthalmology / Strabismus  Paediatric Strabismus 
 ?Squint (Orthoptic opinion sought) Ophthalmology / Orthoptist  Orthoptic 
 Non-squint problems Ophthalmology / General Paediatric  Paediatric Ophthalmology 

Nick Strong, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Choose and Book Lead

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