Orthoptics
Description of service
The Children’s Eye Service monitors and treats children with reduced vision and related eye conditions.
It is staffed by four Orthoptists and 2 Paediatric Optometrists. Children are referred by Health Visitors, School Nurses, GPs, Paediatricians and other health professionals for orthoptic assessment, as a result of community screening, professional or parental concern, or because of their family history.
Children are invited for a full orthoptic assessment including vision test, assessment for squint, stereopsis, fusion range and auto-refraction. Some children are then seen by the Paediatric Optometrist. Many of the children have amblyopia caused by refractive error or squint. If amblyopia treatment is not completed by aged seven, then it will not be effective. Others have eye conditions such as ocular albinism, cataracts and nystagmus.
Children can be referred on to a tertiary hospital for further tests or for squint surgery. Children with Special Needs are especially vulnerable to vision problems and are screened for a variety of eye problems. Their treatment plans are mostly the same as other patients, but the incidence of squint, refractive error and ocular problem is greater.
Read more about the Children’s Eye Service at:
https://www.hct.nhs.uk/our-services/eye-service/
Specialities covered
- Amblyopia therapy
- Visual processing clinics
- Refraction clinics
Areas covered
St Albans Health Wellbeing Centre
Civic Centre
St Albans
AL1 3JE
By car: If you are using a sat nav system, use the postcode AL1 3JE to find Civic Close. Parking is available in nearby pay and display car parks in Bricket Road North, Drovers Way and the Maltings Shopping Centre. For more information on parking, go to www.stalbans.gov.uk and search for “car parks”. There is high demand for parking on Wednesdays because of the market so please allow time to park.
By train: St Albans City Station is approximately ten minutes’ walk from the Civic Centre. When leaving the station from the main exit, go up the steps to the main road then: 1. Turn right onto Victoria Street. Continue walking for around 0.4miles (10 mins) 2. Turn right onto Bricket Road 3. Turn left onto Civic Close 4. Turn right to stay on Civic Close The council offices are set back from the road – behind the Alban Arena.
By bus: The majority of local buses stop in St Peter’s Street, including routes 34, 300, 321, 658, and 724.
Marlowes Health and Wellbeing Centre
39-41 Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP1 1LD
The centre is located in Hemel Hempstead town centre with good public transport links.
By Bus: The centre is served by numerous bus routes including routes 2, 3, 4, 46, 301 and 532 which stop outside The Forum and additional bus and coach routes including 29, 31 and 759 which stop at West Herts College.
By Train: The nearest train station is Hemel Hempstead station, just over one mile walk from the centre or a short bus ride.
By Bicycle: There is space for bicycles to be parked in open bicycle hoops and motorbike parking bays at the rear of the centre.
By car: Parking at the centre is very limited. It is for Blue Badge holders only, on a first come, first served basis. Service users, patients, parents and carers will need to park off site. There are several public car parks that are available close to the centre, including High Street, Water Gardens, Gadebridge Lane and Queensway car parks. There are also drop off spaces at the front of the site for people arriving by a taxi or private transport.
Main contact
Dr Catherine Stewart
catherine.stewart22@nhs.net
Dress Code/Uniform
Smart but comfortable clothes to be worn in clinic
Accommodation information
There is no Trust accommodation. There are a number of hotels in the St Albans and Hemel Hempstead areas.
Recommended pre-placement reading
Reading around the topics covered at university relating to the placement outcome measures.
Preparing for your placement
Come ready to work hard and learn!
What to bring on your first day
- Pen
- Note book
- Distractors
- Fixation targets
What to expect on your first day
- Induction and familiarising with the clinic
- Outline of your timetable
- Meeting the team
- Attending clinic
