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Patients to benefit from faster access to specialist eye care at James Cook
Published October 27, 2026
By
Baker Lillivick
PATIENTS with urgent eye conditions will soon benefit from quicker access to specialist care thanks to a new service at The James Cook University Hospital.
From Tuesday 3 November, the emergency eye care department at James Cook will introduce a triage telephone service to support patients with urgent, non-sight-threatening eye conditions.
Patients are advised to call 01642 854096 before attending the hospital if they experience conditions including suspected eye infections, new onset of flashes, floaters or a dark curtain over vision, red or painful eye/s and flashing lights and floaters (without blurring of vision).
Following an initial telephone call, a triage nurse, will assess the patient’s condition and direct them to the most appropriate care pathway.
The service will be available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, and weekends and bank holidays, 8am to 12 noon.
Walk-in appointments to the emergency eye care department located at James Cook will remain available during these hours for patients experiencing genuine sight-threatening, eye emergencies.
These include sudden loss of vision, chemical burns, new onset double vision, severe pain with nausea or headaches, flashing lights and floaters accompanied by vision loss, and complications following intraocular eye surgery within the previous month.
Clinical matron, Kathryn Young: "Introducing a dedicated triage telephone line will help ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time for their individual needs.
“The service will provide quicker access to specialist advice for patients with urgent eye conditions while helping our teams prioritise those with sight-threatening eye emergencies.”
Outside of the department's opening hours, patients with emergency eye conditions should attend their nearest emergency department or urgent treatment centre. Patients with acute eye concerns such as mild irritation, dry or sticky eyes or gradual blurred vision, should contact their GP or local optician.
For opening times, location details and a full breakdown of eye conditions and treatment pathways, visit the emergency eye care department page on the South Tees Hospitals website: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/ophthalmology/eye-casualty-department/
Patients are advised to call 01642 854096 before attending the hospital if they experience conditions including suspected eye infections, new onset of flashes, floaters or a dark curtain over vision, red or painful eye/s and flashing lights and floaters (without blurring of vision).
Following an initial telephone call, a triage nurse, will assess the patient’s condition and direct them to the most appropriate care pathway.
The service will be available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, and weekends and bank holidays, 8am to 12 noon.
Walk-in appointments to the emergency eye care department located at James Cook will remain available during these hours for patients experiencing genuine sight-threatening, eye emergencies.
These include sudden loss of vision, chemical burns, new onset double vision, severe pain with nausea or headaches, flashing lights and floaters accompanied by vision loss, and complications following intraocular eye surgery within the previous month.
Clinical matron, Kathryn Young: "Introducing a dedicated triage telephone line will help ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time for their individual needs.
“The service will provide quicker access to specialist advice for patients with urgent eye conditions while helping our teams prioritise those with sight-threatening eye emergencies.”
Outside of the department's opening hours, patients with emergency eye conditions should attend their nearest emergency department or urgent treatment centre. Patients with acute eye concerns such as mild irritation, dry or sticky eyes or gradual blurred vision, should contact their GP or local optician.
For opening times, location details and a full breakdown of eye conditions and treatment pathways, visit the emergency eye care department page on the South Tees Hospitals website: https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/ophthalmology/eye-casualty-department/
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