When not to go to A&E

Added at 18:27 on 30 December 2024

Do you have an eye-related health need? NHSGGC service can get you help, often within 24 hours

Many people think an optician is nothing more than a place to go and get an eye test and glasses or contact lenses, but they offer much more – and NHSGGC is encouraging people to visit their local optician in the first instance if they have any worries about their eyes or their vision.

As well as having the equipment to carry out a range of health checks and treatments on-site, opticians also have access to NHSGGC’s specialised Acute Referral Centre (ARC) – a service that can see patients and treat their conditions often within 24 hours.

The ARC is based at the Ophthalmology Department at Gartnavel General Hospital (GGH), but it also sees patients at Inverclyde Royal Hospital (IRH) and Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), ensuring that, where appropriate, people can access acute eye care as close to home as possible.

The service, which operates 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday and provides a 7-day out-of-hours service, has been running for more than 10 years, and latest figures show it sees more than 10,000 patients every year.