New emergency eye treament centres created

To reduce the need for hospital visits during the pandemic, new centres providing emergency eye treatment have been established across Scotland.
More than 50 Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres have been set up across Scotland. Image by David Mark from PixabayMore than 50 Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres have been set up across Scotland. Image by David Mark from Pixabay
More than 50 Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres have been set up across Scotland. Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Some £3 million of Scottish Government funding has gone into providing these new measures. Following a telephone consultation, some patients will be referred to optometrists at the centres who can treat various conditions without the need for GPs or hospitals.

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.

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“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 Eyecare Treatment Centres across Scotland to manage patients without Covid-19 symptoms who need an emergency face-to-face consultation.

“I am pleased to see some NHS Boards are also using innovative new tele-ophthalmology technology. This means that more patients can be immediately diagnosed and treated in a community setting while gaining an expert opinion from the secondary care ophthalmology team.”

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