BBR Optometry expands emergency appointments

Hereford-based BBR Optometry has extended the number of emergency appointment slots it offers in an effort to help relieve pressure on GPs and the local hospital eye unit.

The increase is part of a Primary Eye Acute Referral Service (PEARS) scheme in cooperation with the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) designed to improve services and take pressure off secondary care.

Across the county 20 optometrists and opticians work within the scheme which is free at the point of delivery. BBR’s team includes two qualified Independent Prescribing (IP) optometrists who are able to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye health issues. BBR Chairman, Qualified IP optometrist Nick Rumney, said acute care needed to be offered where it was needed most.’In emergency situations, the last thing patients want is to have to wade through red-tape in order to get help. Historically people may not always have approached their optician or optometrist with issues that are health, rather than vision related, such as red eyes, sore eyes, or even a foreign body in the eye. However, as optometrists, we are able to help with far more than sight alone.’