Online PPE shop opens for practices in England

Masks, gloves, visors and aprons on sale

Optical practices in England can now purchase Public Health England (PHE) recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) from a new online shop at primaryeyecaresupplies.co.uk

The shop is a joint initiative between the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) and Primary Eyecare Services (PES) to ensure that all practices can quickly access affordable PPE when required.

Under the joint initiative, LOCSU and PES participated in discussions to identify sources of quality PPE at national and local levels. As a lead of provider of clinical services, PES will purchase the equipment, facilitate practice orders and manage distribution for the benefit of all practices that wish to purchase.

The shop is operating on a non-profit basis, offering items sourced at the lowest available price with a free delivery option. All practices in England will be able to access PPE via the online shop (subject to availability), regardless of primary eyecare company affiliation.

Mike Fegan, chair of LOCSU and PES, commented: “I am really pleased that LOCSU and PES are able to work together to help provide access to PPE to practices across England. Access to PPE has been a huge problem and I hope that this initiative goes some way to ensuring that all practices can assess the PPE that they need.

“Throughout the planning for this initiative, our overriding concern has been to locate a sustainable source of PPE that will ensure that practices can continue to provide outstanding patient care during the current challenging conditions.

“Primary Eyecare Services’ position as the biggest provider of locally commissioned primary eyecare services, working in 75 per cent of all LOC areas in England, made it the obvious partner for LOCSU. PES is using its scale and infrastructure to purchase and manage the distribution of the required PPE for the benefit of the sector – and we hope the sector will acknowledge the resources and effort that have gone into making this happen.”

Stock availability will be closely monitored and order quantities will be limited to ensure that the maximum possible number of practices can benefit from purchasing PPE from a trusted central source.

Commenting on the initiative, ABDO president, Jo Holmes, said: “ABDO would like to thank LOCSU and Primary Eyecare Services for organising this option to be made available to optical practices in England. Optical practices can source PPE through the NHS England supply chain – but due to the current situation there is limited stock.

“It is still recommended that optical practice staff providing face-to-face care within a two-meter radius should wear PPE, and we expect this to remain the case as we enter in to the exit phase and possibly beyond. ABDO will keep members up to date as the situation changes.”

For members in other nations, Optometry Northern Ireland has sourced PPE for members. Wales and Scotland governments have supplied PPE for those supplying urgent and emergency care.

For information about other suppliers offering PPE, click here.

Read all the latest Covid-19 updates on the ABDO Covid-19 guidance page here.