23rd March 2020.
This date will be forever ingrained in many of our minds as the date lockdown began in the UK. It was also the date that all elective out-patient, community and surgical work stopped. In the 4 months that have followed most of our orthoptic departments look very different, delivering care inways we never thought possible. Many orthoptists have acquired new skills, performing tasks and working in areas they never imagined. Many of us have lost loved ones and colleagues and to say this has been a challenging period underestimates the myriad of emotions we have all gone through, both personnally and professionally during this time.
Phases of the NHSE/I pandemic response
The table below shows how NHSE/I have responded to the covid 19 pandemic
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Phase 1 saw the focus on managing the pandemic as a critical incident and to ensure access to services for urgent care.
Phase 2 focused on a safe re-start. This has been challenging as services have wanted to increase capacity but are confined by PPE, IPC and social distancing requirements. If you haven’t done so already please ensure you read the BIOS guidance on the management of patients in the recovery phase, here.
We advise any orthoptic lead or head of service who is finding it challenging to get their senior management teams to recognise the need to safely restart orthoptic services to utilise the BIOS website resources, alongside their own governance procedures, for example documenting risks on the risk register, reporting incidents etc. LOOP also advise, if you haven’t done so already, that all patients overdue their appointments are clinically reviewed to identify those that may be at risk of harm due to the delays, eg amblyopes coming to the end of the visual development period and escalate these risks if you cannot provide access to care.
In phase 3 we are starting to prepare to address the backlogs and see the NHS open for business again.
LOOP conference and mini meetings
Unfortunately the Covid 19 pandemic meant LOOP conference we had planned for 20th May was cancelled and we hope to reconvene in spring 2021. Our planned conference topics included building better teams, supporting the workforce and promoting good mental health and wellbeing within our teams. If you have any further ideas or suggestions for next year’s conference please contact Loopchair@orthoptics.org.uk
In the meantime the LOOP steering group is planning to host short virtual meetings for all LOOP members in the coming weeks. The aim of these meetings is to provide a forum for advice and support to each other. Look out for invites to join these meetings and if you have any suggestions for topics or speakers please email the loop chair.
Many of us have had to dig deep in these last few months and use all of our leadership skills to support our colleagues, ensure safe working, manage risks, implement change quickly and redesign services, all whilst looking after our own mental health and wellbeing. During this time our profession and members have been excellently supported by the BIOS admin team, particularly Sharia and Rich and by the unceasing efforts of our chair and vice chair, Veronica and Julie. On behalf of all the members the LOOP steering group would like to thank them for all their hard work and for all the resources made available to us on the website, in ePV and through the chat forums. Well done everyone.
