New eye-care centres to deal with emergency cases
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NEW centres have been set up to help patients with emergency eye problems during the coronavirus pandemic.
Emergency Eye-care Treatment Centres have been established in all health board areas and new technology is being trialled by NHS Grampian.
After a consultation by phone, some patients may be referred to optometrists at the treatment centres who can manage a wide range of conditions without further involvement from GPs or hospitals.
In Grampian, live video and audio feeds between the centres and consultants in hospitals are also being used to enable more patients to be immediately diagnosed and treated.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "While services have changed dramatically over the last few weeks, my message is clear – if you are worried about your health in any way, please get in touch with your GP. The same applies to your vision – if you have experienced any problems with your sight, please contact your local high-street optician as soon as possible.
"I would like to thank NHS boards and the optometry and ophthalmology professions for their excellent collaboration in establishing, at pace, more than 50 Emergency Eye-care Treatment Centres across Scotland to manage patients without COVID-19 symptoms who need an emergency face-to-face consultation."
Routine eye-care services were suspended on March 23. Since then, community optometry practices have provided emergency and essential services.
The centres are backed by up to £3 million of Scottish Government funding.
