EeRS is a digital platform for all eyecare referrals and communications between optometrists, referral management, secondary care and eyecare providers.

NHS England (NHSE) commissioned Cinapsis to provide the EeRS platform across the Midlands Region, covering 11 ICBs, with the platform going live for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin on 1 November 2023. This was the earliest area to launch as part of an NHS Midlands led regional implementation programme.

During January 2025, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin became the first to achieve 100% onboarding of all the optometry practices.

Claire Roberts, optometry adviser for the integrated care system in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said: ‘To onboard 100% of the county's optical practices, so they can all now send referrals digitally on the Cinapsis platform, is a tremendous achievement.

‘This means referrals from all optical practices in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are sent more efficiently and communication is improved between eye care professionals.'

Going forward, the project team will continue to work with all key stakeholders to deliver the following system benefits:

• A more efficient referral pathway, removing the delay for the patient
• Reduce the admin burden on GPs and risk of lost and duplicate referrals
• A standardised set of easy-to-use electronic referral forms and the ability to easily share images 
• Improved flow of information across the system.