Covid: Keeping you updated 11

The College of Optometrists has announced that, from Monday, June 15, ‘optometrists across England can expand their services beyond urgent and essential care. Optometrist practices will be able to provide patient care depending on their needs and symptoms, while still prioritising essential and urgent cases.’ This is because we are now entering what is described as the amber phase of lockdown (figure 1).

What is unclear is the detail of prioritisation. Some practices will be offering routine services under amber which, as not qualifying for Covid payments, are only available to patients able to pay privately. This is likely to continue until GOS services resume and, if the Covid payments cease at the end of June as is suggested, there may be a period where private services only are available in England.