The following is an announcement from the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) regarding the Government’s possible move to Covid-19 Alert Level 3 on 23 April

FROM THE ODOB BOARD

As you may be aware, the Government has indicated a possible move to Alert Level 3 at the end of the Alert Level 4 lockdown period. Moving to Alert Level 3 will indicate that there is a “heightened risk that disease is not contained”. We need to ensure appropriate and safe practise so that the Government objectives are maintained

The current Alert level 3 guidelines indicate:

• Travel in areas with clusters or community transmission limited
• Affected educational facilities closed
• Mass gatherings cancelled
• Public venues closed (eg. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, amusement parks)
• Alternative ways of working required and some non-essential businesses should close
• Non face-to-face primary care consultations
• Non acute (elective) services and procedures in hospitals deferred and healthcare staff reprioritised.

In addition, the Government at this stage has indicated three key areas to help prepare for the change:

• Make sure you can look at whether or not you can work with social distancing
• Can you contact trace all of the customers or the employees that you work with
• Do you or will you need PPE

The Board is working with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to find out exactly what the change of alert levels will mean for dispensing opticians and optometrists. Once we find out more details and understand more about what the Government will or will not allow, we will provide more guidance.

However, to allow practitioners to prepare for the move to Alert level 3, the Board is of the understanding that: 

• All optometry practices will be allowed to open with limited operation and controlled entry
• They must be able to record details of all patients/customers, employees and any other members of the public entering their place of business to ensure effective contact tracing
• Emergency and acute consultations will be allowed as per Alert 4. At this point in time we are seeking clarity on other types of consultations and will communicate this as soon as we have further information from the MoH
• At a minimum, when seeing patients, practitioners should follow the current MoH public health measure guidelines, published on its website
• Due to the nature of optometry and optical dispensing, practitioners will most likely be in close contact with patients (less than 1m) and as such PPE will be required
• Routine examinations, recall examinations or examinations that could be deferred will not be allowed. Practitioners need to use sound clinical judgement and remember the big picture and ensure they follow the Government Alert 3 objectives
• Social distancing and staggered consultations will need to occur
• The MoH has recommended that people over 70 and those with pre-existing conditions, such as chronic respiratory disease - including severe asthma, bronchiectasis and COPD - and those who are immunocompromised, stay at home. Unless necessary, practitioners should plan not to see patients in this category
• Domiciliary visits, including rest home visits should not occur

The way dispensing opticians and optometrists practise, who they see and how they see members of the public will ultimately be different and practitioners will need to adapt and change. For the time being practitioners are being asked to continue:

• Following the information already communicated, including triage guidelines previously under Alert 4
• Working collaboratively with their DHB
• Ensuring that sales and commercial gain do not influence their decision making and clinical judgement
• Staying in contact with their professional body including the NZAO and ADONZ

As we receive more information from the MoH, especially around what category or type of consultations practitioners will be able to provide, we will then be able to provide more clarity and guidance.

We appreciate your patience as we move through this challenging time.

Kia kaha,

Jayesh Chouhan
ODOB Board chair