ABDO has established a new working group to discuss the exit phase from the Covid-19 lockdown and beyond.
The group will provide members with guidance and recommendations on protocol during the exit phase, and when practices open again to provide routine eyecare.
The working group consists of Jo Holmes (president), Daryl Newsome (vice president and chair of the National Clinical Committee, NCC), Debbie McGill (head of policy and public affairs), Clive Marchant (immediate past president), Josh Smith (NCC member), Kevin Gutsell (NCC member) and Tony Harvey (NCC member).
The group has already worked through major and minor issues including the patient journey, practice structure, the personal protective equipment (PPE) that will be required in the immediate exit phase and what PPE will be necessary moving forward.
It has also looked closely at guidance on adaptations that members can make to their practices to allow for social distancing, disinfection and sterilisation and equipment in between patients, as well as ideas on how to structure appointment systems for example providing specific days for shielded groups.
Debbie McGill commented: “We hope to release guidance and recommendations on exit phase protocols imminently, depending on the updated government and public health advice.”