COVID-19
We are increasing our services - what to expect when you come into the practiceWhat are we doing to ensure your safety and wellbeing?
Benjamin Opticians is offering our full range of services and, as we begin to return to some sense of normality, we wanted to let you know what to expect at Benjamins under this ‘new normal’.
From 19th July the government has stated that health and social care settings should continue to maintain appropriate infection protection and control measures. The Chief Medical Officer has stated that the pandemic is not over and expects an extremely high prevalence of COVID at least until the end of August.
You can expect the highest standards of hygiene and safety, yet still receive the great service you have come to expect from Benjamins.
We are regulated by the General Optical Council, supported by our professional bodies. The guidance we are following is to maintain our current level of protection for our patients, staff and their families:
We shall continue to provide protection with the same level of PPE for our staff.
We shall maintain social distancing of 2m or 1m plus.
We shall continue to triage and prioritise patients.
We shall continue to clean down inbetween patients including frame sanitisation.
We shall limit the number of patients in the practice and continue our locked door policy..
We continue to run our full eyecare services both for existing patients and new patients.
Extending our services
We will see you for your regular eye examination or contact lens aftercare, in addition to emergency appointments. We are trying to fit everyone in who was due an appointment during lockdown, so there may be a delay in booking you in for a routine examinations.
Please note, for your safety we are continuing with our safety practices beyond 19th July 2021. This means facemasks will be worn by our team and we would ask you do the same, for everyone’s protection.
Our revised opening hours are Monday to Saturday 8am until 6pm for pre-booked appointments. If you have a problem please telephone us or use the side door of the practice – press the buzzer and wait for someone to come and help you.
Please contact us via our website or telephone 01756 792933 to discuss your problem. Outside of our revised opening hours, please leave a message on the answering service or email us.
When you make an appointment
Our new three stage process involves triage over the phone or by video link to discuss your ocular health. Once we have confirmed your appointment, you come in and see an optometrist and should need new spectacles, you will see one of our lens experts to help you choose your new eyewear.
When you call to make an appointment, we will initially triage you over the phone. We will ask you about your health and if you have come into contact with the virus. If you are showing symptoms we will ask you to rebook at a later date and call NHS 111.
At your appointment
It woudl be helpful if you carry out a lateral flow test before attending your appointment. Please come wearing a face mask; come on your own if possible and do not arrive early for your appointment, as we are not using our waiting rooms to minimise the number of people in the practice.
You will not need to wait long – when you arrive at your appointment time you will be seen straight away either for a scan if you are having one or directly by your optician. Press the buzzer next to our side door and you will be greeted by a member of the team. We will take your temperature and will ask that you sanitise your hands on arrival; in between rooms and on leaving – hand sanitiser gel is provided for you.
A message from Liz Ellis
“During what has been a difficult time for all of us all, our team continued to offer emergency eye care. I am pleased to say that we helped a number of key workers to continue their valuable work and Hannah – our longest serving Optometrist was available every day to help diagnose problems and help save lives. We ensured you received your contact lenses, spectacle repairs and emergency appointments as best we could with a very reduced team.
I am pleased we are now resuming some sense of normality and I am looking forward to looking after your eyecare and eyewear needs. Please be patient with us, as things may a little longer now we have changed the way we test and work in this ‘new normal’. We promise it is in your best interest.
If you have any questions or concerns please telephone me at the practice so that I can put your mind at ease.”
Thank you
Liz Ellis
