We are open and operating with some additional measures for your peace of mind

Are you open?

We are open as usual with additional policies in place to accommodate hygiene and social distancing requirements as recommended to us by the NHS and our regulatory bodies.

We strongly encourage you to pre-book your visit to the practice to avoid the need to wait and queue outside, including visits to browse or collect spectacles. We kindly ask that you try to arrive as close to your appointment time as possible as we may not be able to accommodate you immediately should you arrive any earlier. Please arrive to your appointment alone, unless arranged with us in advance.

Upon entry into the practice, you will be screened by our staff and asked to sanitise your hands.

We ask that if you have had a high temperature, new cough or sudden loss or change in taste or smell in the last 10 days, or anyone in your household has experienced these symptoms in the last 14 days, you do not attend the practice. Please also do not attend the practice if you have been advised to self-isolate.

We politely ask you to respect the measures we are taking at this time as a primary care establishment.

Do I have to wear a face mask?

Yes. We require everyone entering the practice to wear a face mask or covering, unless you have an exemption.

What procedures do you have in place if I attend for an eye examination?
 

At Harpenden Eye Centre we have always taken hygiene and patient safety in our practice very seriously. Rest assured, we have implemented further stringent measures and enhanced our patient safeguards for everyone’s protection. 

· We kindly ask that you do not arrive too early for your appointment, as we aim to send you straight through to the consulting room after you have been screened upon entry.

· Upon entry, you will be screened by a member of staff and asked to sanitize your hands. 

· You must wear a face covering to your eye examination unless you have an exemption. Please inform us of your exemption at the time of booking your appointment.

· We have inserted breaks between appointments to allow for the full deep clean of the consulting room and all the equipment inside.

· The optometrist will be dressed in personal protective equipment, including a face mask, gloves and apron.

· Our equipment has been updated to ensure your consultation is as contact-free as possible. You may notice our optometrists using new devices, as well as upgrades to our existing equipment, such as additional breath shields.

What procedures do you have in place outside the consulting room? 

· We have removed some chairs in the waiting area to allow for social distancing.

· Hand sanitising stations have been set up around the practice.

· All leaflets and magazines have been removed from the waiting area.

· All door handles, surfaces, chairs, card payment machines and all other equipment is cleaned after each use.

· All practice staff wash their hands frequently, are regularly tested and have their temperatures taken at the start of each day.