Two Fife branches of Specsavers become emergency eyecare centres

Two Fife branches ofSpecsavers have been selected to become dedicated Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centres (EETC) for patients who need emergency face-to-face care during the COVID-19 crisis.

The company’s bases in Kirkclady and Glenrothes will form part of the network established to handle essential eye care following referrals from local optometry practices.

The practices are both fully set up to follow social distancing, hygiene and PPE guidelines to ensure the safety of staff and patients.

They also offer offers Specsavers’ RemoteCare, a new specialist telephone and video consultation service set up in response to the pandemic.

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Kathryn Thompson, optometrist and store director at Specsavers Kirkcaldy, says: ‘Our aim is to keep patients at home wherever possible.

“Our RemoteCare service means patients who have concerns about their eyes can telephone us for advice, and we can provide support either over the phone or via video link, even using cutting edge technology to help us assess them.

‘Much of the time we will be able to resolve their problems this way, and keep them at home where it is safest – this will also help to ease the burden on GPs, pharmacists and hospitals during the crisis.

‘Where face-to-face treatment is necessary, the EETCs will come into play – like our own practice here in Kirkcaldy.

“Patients from across the area who absolutely need to be assessed and treated in person can come here, where we are fully set up to follow the latest NHS Scotland guidelines to reduce the risk of the virus spreading.”

The company said the designation of the two stores would be of benefit to key workers.

Added Kathryn: “Our service will be especially useful for key workers who couldn’t do their jobs without our help, and we’ve already been able to assist lots of people whose eye problems would otherwise have caused them real distress during the crisis.”

Specsavers’ branches are located in the High Street, Kirkcaldy, and in the Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes