Community optometrists can send referrals directly to a Single Point of Access (SPoA), which routes them to the patient’s preferred hospital for triage and management.
This pathway is delivered by Single Point of Access for Referral and Coordination (Sparc), hosted by Moorfields Eye Hospital, and will improve referral processing and reduce patient journey time from point of referral to hospital appointment. Sparc facilitates service innovations including centralised triaging, the launch of an advice and guidance service, the provision of targeted optometrist education and referral feedback, and dynamic digital modelling, to improve access to hospital resources.
Sparc is now live in North Central London, South West London and parts of North East London. The service accepts non-emergency referrals from optometrists, and ensures that those referrals get to a suitable ophthalmology provider as quickly as possible. Sparc is a true collaboration between hospitals, optometry, and integrated care system. We have been awarded “eyecare accelerator status” by NHS England reflecting our desire to design clinical pathways that are future-ready.
We see the referral process as a key opportunity to improve patient experience and develop a closer relationship between all professionals and organisations delivering eyecare to our patients. We are developing new services, generating actionable insights from our data to improve performance, and engaging with our referrer community through regular CPD-accredited education sessions.
Service Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Important information for GPs
It is no longer compulsory for GP practices to accept optometry and ophthalmology referrals. Community optometrists are encouraged to refer directly into the SPARC using the correct form and information.
The Sparc’s benefit to GP practices:
Saves time for GP practices who will no longer be required to forward ophthalmic referrals.
Patients' referrals are reviewed by a principal optometrist directing them to the right service first time.
Community optometrists and GP's feedback provided by secondary care
Ophthalmic conditions reviewed in the community diverted away from GPs saves time
Referral areas
North Central London
How to refer
South West London
How to refer
North East London
How to refer