Specialised eye treatment centres have been set up in Airdrie and Coatbridge to ensure patients can receive any necessary emergency assistance during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two Monklands facilities are among 12 established by NHS Lanarkshire across the county to assist patients while all routine eye care – other than emergency dispensing of glasses – remains suspended.
Most attendances will be through a referral from a GP, pharmacist or a patient’s own optometrist, although people can also self-present to the centres; which are run with social distancing at the forefront.
Coatbridge optometrist Frank Munro, who is NHS Lanarkshire’s optometric advisor, said: “All optometrists in practices will be available to take phone queries and may be able to treat or manage you depending on how well you describe your symptoms.
“You can also send the optometrist digital images of your eyes from your mobile phone to help them to make a diagnosis.
“If the optometrist thinks you need a face-to-face consultation, you will attend one of the 12 emergency treatment centres that we have established across Lanarkshire – prior to attending, you may receive a phone call to ask for your history and symptoms.”
He added: “The centres are designed with social distancing in mind, with only one patient allowed in at each time – when you arrive, the door will be opened for you and you will be welcomed in.
“At the centre, you will receive a full examination and we would establish a management plan; staff at the centres can prescribe, so you can rapidly access any treatments you may need.
“We can also share images with hospital staff to help decide if you need to more intensive treatment or whether we can still treat you from the practice in the community.”
NHS Lanarkshire’s director of dentistry is similarly reassuring patients that they will receive urgent help if required at one of the area’s dental care centres, saying: “The NHS is still open”.
Routine face-to-face dental care is also postponed due to coronavirus, but Anne Moore says “services are being delivered in a different way” and that patients should contact their usual practice for advice.
Details of all dental practices are available at www.nhsinform.scot/
She said: “During Covid-19, the way in which we access dental treatment has changed – but all dentists are still able to give advice and issue antibiotics and painkillers, whatever is appropriate for the individual patient; and if necessary refer on for treatment in an urgent dental care centre.
“If you have a dental problem, you should call your dentist as normal who will then give you advice over the phone, and arrangements will be made if you need to be seen.
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“If you do not have a dentist, you can find your nearest dental surgery by using the services directory at nhsinform.scot – and if you have a dental problem out of hours when practices are closed, you can contact NHS 24 by calling 111.”
She added: “If you or your family have symptoms of Covid-19, you should advise the dentist when you call them and arrangements will be made if you need urgent care.”
