Accessing eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic / Mynediad at ofal llygaid yn ystod y pandemig COVID-19

As community optometrists across Hywel Dda continue to provide an essential eye care service for our patients, some temporary operational changes have been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients will receive their eye care in a different way during this time, with some patients seeing a different optometrist than usual. With some optometry practices within Hywel Dda having to temporarily close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 practices (listed below) will remain open and continue to provide services for those with urgent eye care needs, such as sudden change in vision, eye pain, eye redness, flashing lights or floating spots or loss/breakage of spectacles or low vision aids which you cannot function without.

Patients who need eye care advice are being asked by Hywel Dda University Health Board to phone one of the above optometric practices, who are currently providing eye care on behalf of other practices in that area. Alternatively, patients can call the Hywel Dda University Health Board central eye care enquiry line on 01267 248793, and they will be directed to their nearest open practice.

Patients should always phone first. Optometric practices are operating a closed-door policy and, in line with social distancing rules, where possible queries will be dealt with over the phone, with face-to-face appointments only offered where absolutely necessary.

Fishguard based Community Optometrist Michael Charlton, said: “These are challenging times but we are working hard to provide primary eye care within the community. Whilst normal routine services are suspended, we are dealing with emergencies such as foreign bodies in eyes, or sudden changes in vision.

“Please use the local service as your first point of contact and if we can help, we will or, if necessary, we can refer you appropriately. All our practices are working collaboratively to provide continuity of care for local people.”

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-term Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We appreciate this decision may cause some inconvenience but it is a much needed step to allow the safe and continued service for patients who need it most and we appreciate your patience and understanding.”

If you or anyone in your household has a temperature or a new and continuous cough, even if it’s mild, please do not visit the optometry practice.

If you are self-isolating, please speak to your community optometrist for advice about how they can help.

If you are advised to visit an optometry practice, please respect social distancing precautions to protect yourself, staff and other members of the public.

For the latest news and updates from Hywel Dda University Health Board visit www.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk

*****************************************************

Wrth i optometryddion cymunedol ar draws Hywel Dda barhau i ddarparu gwasanaeth gofal llygaid hanfodol i’n cleifion, mae rhai newidiadau gweithredol dros dro wedi’u rhoi ar waith yn ystod y pandemig COVID-19.

Bydd cleifion yn derbyn eu gofal llygaid mewn ffordd wahanol yn ystod yr amser hwn, gyda rhai cleifion yn gweld optometrydd gwahanol i’r arfer. Gyda rhai gwasanaethau optometreg yn Hywel Dda yn gorfod cau dros dro oherwydd y pandemig COVID-19, bydd 12 practis (a restrir isod) yn aros ar agor ac yn parhau i ddarparu gwasanaethau i’r rheini ag anghenion gofal llygaid brys, megis newid sydyn yn eu golwg, poen llygaid , cochni llygaid, goleuadau sy’n fflachio neu smotiau arnofiol neu golli / torri sbectol neu gymhorthion golwg isel na allwch weithio hebddyn nhw.

Mae Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda yn gofyn i gleifion sydd angen cyngor ar ofal llygaid ffonio un o’r practisau optometreg uchod, sydd ar hyn o bryd yn darparu gofal llygaid ar ran meddygfeydd eraill yn yr ardal honno. Fel arall, gall cleifion ffonio llinell ymholi gofal llygaid canolog Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda ar 01267 248793, a chânt eu cyfeirio at eu practis agored agosaf.

Dylai cleifion ffonio yn gyntaf.  Mae practisau optometreg yn gweithredu polisi drws caeedig ac, yn unol â rheolau pellhau cymdeithasol, lle bo modd, ymdrinnir ag ymholiadau dros y ffôn, dim ond lle bo angen yn llwyr y cynigir apwyntiadau wyneb yn wyneb.

Dywedodd yr Optometrydd Cymunedol sydd wedi’i leoli yn Ninbych-y Pysgod, Michael Charlton: “Mae’r rhain yn amseroedd heriol ond rydym yn gweithio’n galed i ddarparu gofal llygaid sylfaenol yn y gymuned. Er bod gwasanaethau arferol yn cael eu hatal, rydym yn delio ag argyfyngau fel nodau diethr yn y llygaid, neu newidiadau sydyn mewn golwg.

“Defnyddiwch y gwasanaeth lleol fel eich pwynt cyswllt cyntaf ac os gallwn ni helpu, fe wnawn ni neu, os oes angen, gallwn eich atgyfeirio yn briodol. Mae ein holl bractisau’n gweithio ar y cyd i ddarparu parhad gofal i bobl leol. ”

Dywedodd Jill Paterson, Cyfarwyddwr Gofal Sylfaenol, Cymuned a Gofal Hirdymor ar gyfer Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda: “Rydym yn gwerthfawrogi y gall y penderfyniad hwn achosi rhywfaint o anghyfleustra ond mae’n gam mawr ei angen i ganiatáu gwasanaeth diogel a pharhaus i gleifion sydd ei angen. fwyaf ac rydym yn gwerthfawrogi eich amynedd a’ch dealltwriaeth. ”

Os oes gennych chi neu unrhyw un yn eich cartref dymheredd neu beswch newydd a pharhaus, hyd yn oed os yw’n ysgafn, peidiwch ag ymweld â’r practis optometreg.

Os ydych chi’n hunan-ynysu, siaradwch â’ch optometrydd cymunedol i gael cyngor ar sut y gallant helpu.

Os cynghorir chi i ymweld â phractis optometreg, parchwch ragofalon pellter cymdeithasol i amddiffyn eich hun, staff ac aelodau eraill o’r cyhoedd.

I gael y newyddion a’r diweddariadau diweddaraf gan Fwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Hywel Dda ewch i www.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk