Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – North West Region Guidance
This guidance paper signposts to current contractors and performers to PHE and/or NHS England resources for Personal Protective Equipment.
Primary care optical practices should not be seeing patients with symptoms of COVID-19.
We recommend that, to preserve supplies of PPE and not require people to make visits to the practice unnecessarily, you should conduct a virtual consultation in the first instance.
We understand that National Public Health bodies are working to arrange supply of PPE to optical practices. When we have further details on this, we will update our guidance.
For urgent eye care service reception staff should maintain a 2-metre distance at all times, and as such do not require PPE to be used.
Distancing and scrupulous hand-washing remain essential. The new guidance now recommends that clinicians should assess risk of infection to themselves and their patients. For the direct care or assessment (within 2 metres) of a patient or resident that is not currently a possible or confirmed COVID-19 case PPE should always be worn before entering the room where the patient is, put the PPE on in the following order:
- – single use disposable plastic apron
- – fluid resistant surgical mask (sessional use, based on risk assessment)
- – reusable face or eye protection (sessional use, based on risk assessment)
- – single use gloves
Public Health England have produced a poster for clinicians which can be displayed in practices
Infection Control – Hand Hygiene
It is still essential to ensure scrupulous hand hygiene at all times. You should also continue to maintain a high standard of infection control every time. Clean the consulting room door handle, computer keyboard, slit lamp joystick and clinical area regularly with an alcohol wipe. The resources below give further advice on hand hygiene.
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/