Banbury eye company introduces lockdown services to help ease pressure on Oxford eye hospital

A Banbury company is offering eye care services during the lockdown in a project funded by the NHS.
Drays Eyecare team - l - r Nina Dhanani, Optometrist, Val Mitchell, Optical Adviser, LeeDray,Owner/Optical Technician, ClaireDray, Owner/Optical Adviser) and 
Kathryn Moggridge, Dispensing Manager.Drays Eyecare team - l - r Nina Dhanani, Optometrist, Val Mitchell, Optical Adviser, LeeDray,Owner/Optical Technician, ClaireDray, Owner/Optical Adviser) and 
Kathryn Moggridge, Dispensing Manager.
Drays Eyecare team - l - r Nina Dhanani, Optometrist, Val Mitchell, Optical Adviser, LeeDray,Owner/Optical Technician, ClaireDray, Owner/Optical Adviser) and Kathryn Moggridge, Dispensing Manager.

Drays Eyecare in Chatsworth Drive has set up a video system to allow consultations that cannot be done personally because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Owner Lee Dray said: "The Oxford eye hospital is under tremendous pressure at the moment but we are offering services that could save the NHS valuable time and also mean Banbury residents could be consulted without leaving their home.

"Under the NHS Oxfordshire Minor Eye Conditions Scheme a virtual consultation can be conducted for our Oxfordshire patients in their own home with our qualified optometrist Lesley Percival.

Optometrist Lesley PercivalOptometrist Lesley Percival
Optometrist Lesley Percival

"This service is fully funded by the NHS. If after a consultation it is not something we can deal with remotely, we can then refer onto other services if deemed appropriate and urgent."

The company is also offering a remote emergency spectacle supply service which is funded for children on the NHS and available from £49 including delivery for those who are not covered through the NHS. Drays Eyecare is also supplying contact lenses, eye drops and treatments by home delivery.

Mr Dray said the company can help with any condition that would not require an immediate emergency hospital visit.

"We often see allergic reactions, conjunctivitis, visual disturbance such as flashes of light or objects floating around, watering eyes, bumps on the eye-lid, pink or red eyes and irritated and itchy eyes.

"Taking these patients on in our community means less strain on the Oxford Eye Hospital and a safer way for patients to access professional advice. Consultations are performed on the phone or by a video link and if emergency face to face consultations are deemed appropriate, we can arrange for this or provide a routine referral for non-urgent cases. This service is being provided in conjunction the the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

Since lockdown, all routine eye examinations and services have ceased in line with General Optical Council and College of Optometry recommendations.

The emergency spectacle supply service is for people who have broken their glasses. Drays Eyecare will supply a replacement pair with free home delivery.

"For our own patients we will have their details on file, such as the prescription required," said Mr Dray. "If they are not our patients we need a copy of their most recent prescription emailed to us. We then have a small but concise range of frames they can choose from; other frames are available if so required. We will then perform a telephone consultation with them to determine the best options for them. The glasses offered are a fixed, reduced price of just £49 for single vision lenses including delivery.

"We are also offering this service to children who often break their glasses more regularly but while this is funded by the NHS, there is a £5 charge for delivery. We are also providing a home delivery eye drops service for those chronic conditions that requires regular treatment with eye drops and associated products. The cost, delivered to Banbury people's homes for the product price plus £3.00 delivery."

Information can be found on the coronavirus help page on the company website here.