Changes to the Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) in Leeds

Brief description of the project

The CUES service in Leeds has been providing rapid access to assessments for eye problems since August 2020. Originally designed to treat urgent symptoms only, over time many people with non-urgent symptoms have been using the service.

This change to how people access the service follows a recent upgrade to the national standard clinical specification for Community Minor and Urgent Eye Care Services, along with wider pressures affecting the NHS, with the ICB in Leeds facing considerable financial challenges.

The current contract for the CUES service in Leeds ends on 31 March 2025 and a new contract will begin from 1 April 2025. Your feedback on how you accessed the CUES service, and your experience of using the service, will help inform the new contract. The main aim is to develop and improve the care people with urgent eyecare issues in Leeds receive.

Who will we speak to?

We are hoping to hear from as many people as possible about their experience of using the CUES service in Leeds, and from staff working in and referring to the service.

What and how will we ask?

The survey asks people using the service to tell us about their experience of using the CUES service, as well as calling the CUES phone number, and what happened as a result of their call. It asks staff to tell us about their experiences of delivering, or referring to, the service.

We are collecting feedback by using a survey. This is available electronically (below), as well as in paper format. We are promoting this by providing posters, leaflets and information cards to GP practices, pharmacies and optical practices in Leeds. These resources include links to more information, including the survey, and the phone number to access the service. Paper copies and alternative formats of the survey are also available on request.

Complete the CUES survey

What will we do?

We will review the feedback we receive and consider any main themes to help shape, or make improvements to, the service from April 2025. Following the end of the survey, we will write a report about what people told us. We will add the report to this page and it will feed into plans for the new contract.

How can you help?

We can’t improve local services without your help. You can help us by sharing the number for CUES with friends and family – 0300 303 4922.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about the survey, you can email Caroline at [email protected]

Resources

For more information about the CUES service, you can visit the Primary Eyecare Services Ltd. website, who are the lead provider of CUES services in Leeds.

Community Urgent Eyecare Services (CUES) review – Involvement plan (Word version)