Updated 09.04.20
At Vista Eyes we take the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak very seriously and are taking additional protective measures to ensure the health and safety of our patients, team members and the wider community. We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to act under the guidelines from the Australian health authorities and RANZCO.
Accordingly, at this time, Vista Eyes Laser Eye Clinic REMAINS OPEN, with amended opening hours/days, and we continue to provide eye assessments for laser eye surgery.
Please note however, as announced by the Australian Prime Minister on 25th March, non-urgent elective surgery in both public and private hospitals must cease from 1 April. This is a necessary measure to preserve much needed medical supplies and to free up hospital beds and ventilators during the COVID-19 health crisis.
For our patients, this means non-urgent cataract and IOL surgeries, usually performed by Dr Wolfe at Vision Eye Institute day surgery clinic in Camberwell, will temporarily cease from 1 April until further notice.
Patients requiring eye assessments for future cataract and IOL surgery can continue to be seen at Vista Eyes at this stage.
As always, please call our clinic if you have any queries.
Importantly, we have implemented the following precautions to prevent the spread of the virus at our clinic:
Increased Infection Control Procedures
In addition to our regular high standard of infection control & sterilization, we have implemented the following:
- Increased sanitation of hard surfaces in highly trafficked areas such as reception, waiting areas, clinical and consulting rooms.
- All clinical and consulting rooms are sanitised after every patient.
- Additional hand sanitisers are available to be used in waiting area, reception, clinical and consulting rooms.
- Removal of magazines & books.
- Removal of coffee and tea cups and replaced with single use, disposable cups.
Team Members’ Health & Safety
- Team members must stay home if they are showing any signs of illness, even if mild, and will not return to work until it is deemed safe to do so by their doctor.
- All team members are having their temperature measured at the forehead upon entering the workplace
Limiting Traffic Inside the Clinic
- We advise that only scheduled patients will be allowed into the consulting rooms and clinical areas and ask that support people (unless required for interpretation or mobility assistance) and family members don’t enter the clinic unnecessarily. We are happy to phone a support person to return to pick up the patient, if needed, at the conclusion of the appointment.
Patient Screening
As has been the case since the start of the outbreak, we request that anybody who:
- has been overseas recently, or
- has been in contact with anybody who is ill, or
- shows any of the known symptoms of:
- fever
- cough
- shortness of breath
- sore throat
does not enter the clinic for 14 days and to call us to reschedule your appointment.
In addition:
- We are calling patients one day prior to their appointment and asking the above questions.
- All all patients are asked to sign a declaration form upon entering our clinic to confirm the above, prior to being seated.
- All patients are required to have their temperature measured at the forehead by staff as a condition of their appointment.
We appreciate your full cooperation in this matter and thank you for continuing to help us maintain a safe and healthy environment.
More Information
For information on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), call the Australian Government’s National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.