23.3.20 Changes to primary care eye services due to COVID-19
News
A number of changes have been made to primary care eye services, in relation to ‘minor eye conditions’ and ‘Glaucoma referral refinement,’ due to COVID-19:
- ‘Primary Eye Care Services’ have Business Continuity plans in place. At this time all primary eye care services are operating a service and continue to accept new referrals.
- Patient are encouraged to follow the booking process and not walk-in. They will be telephone screened for symptoms of Coronavirus. Patients positive from active symptoms will be given standard PHE isolation advice.
- Protocols are in place for the notification of inability to deliver services from specific locations due to either workforce or closure and in such cases alternative sites will be signposted to enable as much continuity of care as possible for patients able to access services.
- We are continuing to work with PECS in support all patients with eye care needs who would normally access the MECS service but are currently unable to due to COVID related restrictions. As such we are exploring the ability for accredited MECS optometrists carrying telephone and video consultations with patients (specifically unable to attend a MECS appointment due to the restrictions). Further information will follow as this is finalised.
