Guernsey Press

Lockdowns lead to longer waits to see an optician

LOCKDOWNS have caused optician appointments to fill up, with many having no spaces until mid-July.

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Shona Linton, who opened Guernsey Eyes just weeks before the island went into its second lockdown, is struggling to keep up with demand, as are many other opticians. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 29622407)

A number of opticians contacted by the Guernsey Press this week even said they were too busy to discuss how busy they were.

While the world continues to wrestle with Covid, supply chains are struggling, along with all manufacturers based off-island.

Guernsey Eyes opened in the first week of January, and by the third week the island had entered its second lockdown.

Mobile and locum optometrist Shona Linton said that during lockdown, opticians were allowed to give emergency care if they wore full PPE.

‘As I am a new practice I did not have a large patient database so requests were rare, mainly red eyes, concerns with sight loss or emergency replacements for essential workers so they could continue to see to work,’ Mrs Linton said.

Patient numbers have risen exponentially.

Guernsey Eyes’ home visit service has been booked solidly since restrictions were relaxed.

‘This service is for anyone whether housebound due to illness, mobility, anxieties – a high proportion of people are afraid to go out.

‘Equally a high proportion of people were desperate to get out of their own homes and get back into the world.

‘As a small one-to-one practice with parking just outside my door, I think many felt more reassured in this environment.’

A few people have booked for tests or to supply visits off island to see relatives or take children back over.

‘In the current busy times I cannot see any time for me being able to leave the island this summer.’

Spaces are kept for emergencies and collection appointments, but appointments need booking two to three weeks in advance as spaces are filling very quickly, Mrs Linton said.

Another island practice explained how its schedule is full until July, but did not wish to be named to avoid extra publicity.

Specsavers’ website states the next available appointments would be on 20 July, and director and optometrist Michael Todd said the lockdowns had significantly affected wait times, which now sit at between two and four weeks.

In normal times the company aims not to have people wait more than two weeks for an appointment, and four slots a day are kept for emergency or urgent appointments, all of which are almost always filled.

‘During the first lockdown we couldn’t operate at all, but in lockdown two we were delivering essential appointments,’ he said.

‘There has definitely been pent up demand due to the lockdowns, and for five or six months after last year’s one people were still a bit reluctant to come in.’

As long as there are no more lockdowns locally, he hoped the normal wait times would resume by the end of the year.