Every orthoptist will have had experiences around the pandemic that they could never have imagined before. Orthoptists around the country have had to change the way they work, and deal with massive work, personal or family issues – so now is not the time to think about research.

BUT there will be many things that have, or will, be done differently – either temporarily or permanently. When the crisis has passed, it will be the time for reflection and audit about what changed, how it changed, what worked, what didn’t, and what affected patient care for better, worse or not at all.  And audit, rather than gut feeling, is the way to do it. For example, will outcomes be worse for the inevitable delays in non-critical treatment or screening?

So, for now, just keep paper trails and don’t throw anything out that might be used for that audit in the years to come.

Keep safe

Anna Horwood

BIOS Research Director