Professional Matters Optometry & Dispensing
College Transition to Green Phase coming soon
College Transition to Green Phase coming soon
In conjunction with each UK Nation’s health system and government public health bodies, optometry practices are expected to move to “Green” phase in early May 2022.
From that point, the COVID-19 Amber phase guidance will no longer apply. Practices should now start planning to revert to following the College’s Guidance for Professional Practice only. We will alert members when the announcements are made.
This does not, however, mean a return to practice or business as it was before the pandemic. The Guidance for Professional Practice has been updated to incorporate the latest public health infection prevention and control recommendations so optometrists can continue to provide eye care safely and effectively to their patients as part of a “new normal”.
The College changes will occur as NHS England steps down physical distancing
NHS England has confirmed that primary care practices can return to “pre-pandemic physical distancing” subject to local risk assessment.
The College of Optometrists has said this also applies to eye care settings in England, and that optical practices are “no longer required to maintain a minimum of 1m distance”. However, practices will need to keep other IPC measures in place.
