Cross Boarder Referrals
Following engagement with Welsh Government, Health Boards, National Clinical Leads and operational teams, OPERAi has been updated to support cross - Health Board Ophthalmology referrals across Wales.
This change will make Ophthalmology referral endpoints available irrespective of a patient's registered GP Health Board, providing referring clinicians with greater flexibility when selecting the most appropriate referral destination for individual patients.
What does this mean?
From 5th August 2026:
- Referring optometrists will be able to view Ophthalmology referral endpoints for all Health Boards across Wales for Routine and Urgent referrals, as is currently the case for Emergency referrals.
- Referral destinations will no longer be restricted by a patient's registered GP Health Board.
Importance Note
Referring clinicians should continue to use their professional judgement to determine the most appropriate referral destination for each patient. Existing local pathways, operational processes and governance arrangements will remain unchanged and should continue to be followed.
This change is intended to support patient-centred care by providing greater flexibility where individual patient circumstances may require referral outside their registered GP Health Board area.
For referring practices
When selecting a referral destination, clinicians should continue to:
• Consider the individual circumstances of the patient.
• Follow local and national clinical guidance.
• Refer to the most appropriate Ophthalmology service based on clinical need.
• Include a brief supporting justification within the referral when referring a patient outside their registered GP Health Board area. Example: "Patient registered with a GP in Bangor but currently attending university in Cardiff. Please accept referral to local service."
Providing a brief explanation will help receiving services understand the rationale for out-of-area referrals and support efficient triage and processing.
Although Health Boards and DHCW have worked to ensured local teams are aware that referrals may be received from patients registered outside their Health Board area following implementation of this change, there maybe occasions where a referral is rejected. In this instance, practices will receive a notification via usual process for rejections. The practice will then need to complete a new referral to send to another provider, if required.
For receiving Trusts
Ophthalmology services may receive referrals for patients registered outside their Health Board area where the referring clinician believes this is the most appropriate destination for the patient.
Where a referral is received inappropriately, the existing OPERAi feedback functionality should be used to return the referral to the referring optometrist, outlining the reason for the rejection and any alternative pathway that should be followed. The feedback link can be accessed via the initial page on the referral document, see red box in image below:
Once you have completed the Referral Feedback Form below and click submit, your feedback will be sent back to the referring optometrist and practice.
