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Oct
08

Thessaloniki – Byzantine mosaics and eyes!

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Mark has been globetrotting again – this time to the Moorfields/Thessaloniki Revision Course, where colleagues from all over Europe gathered to hear the latest updates across the field of Ophthalmology.  Mark presented on Uveitis, then took the time to network with colleagues – including attending the opening of a new clinic, which was blessed by a local priest.

Then he admired Byzantine mosaics and the specially themed fire extinguishers!

               

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Jul
30

The London Clinic Eye Centre launches Urgent Referral Service

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For our GP and optometrist colleagues: If you have a patient who needs urgent eye care and we’re unable to fit you in, our Eye Centre has launched an Urgent Referral Service.  Just contact the Eye Centre on 07815 024072 (call or WhatsApp) and let our team of specialised Ophthalmic nurses arrange a consultation with one of our Consultants and any tests needed.

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May
20

Mark presents in Salt Lake City, Utah at ARVO

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The prestigious ARVO conference (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) took place in Salt Lake City this year, from 3rd-8th May. Mark was presenting on the efficacy of treatment for Birdshot Retinochoroiditis with colleagues from Moorfields Eye Hospital. He hugely enjoyed the conference (the largest ophthalmic research conference in the world), catching up on the latest research findings and drug/product launches. He also took the time to go hiking in Utah’s spectacular canyons afterwards….

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Jan
25

Meeting for Optometrists at the Royal Society of Medicine

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We were delighted to host many of London’s leading optometrists (many of whom are good friends of the practice) at the Royal Society of Medicine for a talk by Mark and his consultant colleague, Mr Emanuel Ramos de Carvalho, Consultant Ophthalmologist in Neuro-Ophthalmology and Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital.  Mark hosted an interactive discussion on ‘Diagnostically challenging retinal cases’, while Emanuel gave a talk on ‘OCT and Neuro-Ophthalmology’ – all of which gave our attendees 4 sought-after CPD points (Continuing Professional Development).  This was followed by food with a wine tasting of low(ish) alcohol wines!

If you’re an optometrist and would like to be added to the invitation list for our next lecture, please email the practice on secretary@mark-westcott.com.  We’re also planning some events for GP practices – again, please get in touch if this is of interest.

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Dec
01

Mark appointed Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, USA

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We’re delighted to announce that Mark was appointed Visiting Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, in recognition of his extensive research track record.  He has published 80+ papers in peer reviewed journals and is in demand as a speaker at conferences nationally and internationally.

Mark is looking forward to working with the team at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre’s Vision Institute on their research projects in their world-leading centre, under the august leadership of Professor José-Alain Sahel, Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology.  He’s also very much looking forward to working with his longstanding colleague and friend Dr Marie-Helene Errera, who is based there.

The UPMC Vision Institute’s headquarters opened at the UPMC Mercy Pavilion on May 1, 2023.

This state-of-the-art facility in Pittsburgh’s Uptown neighborhood includes many resources for experts, patients, visitors, and neighbours, such as:

  • 410,000 square feet of clinical and research space.
  • A dedicated clinical trials center.
  • Cutting-edge biotherapy treatments.
  • Eight eye disease operating rooms.
  • 83 eye exam rooms.
  • 10 rehab exam rooms.
  • 100,600 square feet of research space.
  • Patient-centered resources, including a life skills apartment, street lab, and rooftop sensory garden.
  • Complete low-vision rehab technologies and services.
  • Enhanced and proactive screening and care for underserved populations

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Jul
21

Restrictions lifting but little change…

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Dear patients and professional colleagues,

We trust that you are all keeping well.

We appear to be turning a corner in this pandemic with restrictions being lifted and the country finally beginning to fully open up again. Despite this, the safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we will continue to implement the strict hygiene and social distancing protocols we have been using so far (see below).

In mid-March Mark’s volunteer services in the Covid ICU at the Royal London Hospital were no longer needed – thankfully due to the reduction in patients – and we began to carry out surgery again.  Mark has been operating since then to make up for those which were postponed during the lockdowns, with strict Covid protocols in place.

All our patient-facing team in the clinic have long since had both doses of the vaccine.  Obviously, we will continue taking all the precautions necessary to keep our patients safe.

Procedures in place for your visit to the Clinic:

  • Patients arriving at the Clinic will be given a sterile face mask, asked questions about current health, have their temperature taken and will be asked to sanitise their hands.
  • Only the patient will be allowed to enter the London Clinic Eye Centre. We have to maintain social distancing where at all possible. Whilst we have ample space, this is jeopardised if patients are accompanied by relatives, partners or friends. This rule currently applies to the vast majority of private and NHS hospitals. Relatives who come by car will be asked to wait in the car. The only exception to this rule is designated carers. If there are concerns or problems with this then please let us know in advance of any visit.
  • Rest assured that strict social distancing rules are applied in our waiting rooms.  We’re fortunate in that even on our floor we have 4 separate areas for patients – although with appointments more spaced out, it’s unlikely they would ever all be used.
  • Mark and Avni wear disposable gloves and aprons which are changed for each patient. Rooms are disinfected between patients.  All practice staff wear masks.

We have redesigned and streamlined the patient journey in order to reduce the waiting time by:

  • Minimising essential tests – for example we will not usually dilate patients’ pupils. Where possible, we will avoid performing visual fields when another test will do.  For example, with the OCT scan, we can broadly maintain the 2-meter separation rule, so we rely more on these tests. We have a new eye pressure machine which is quicker, more comfortable and minimises close-up examination time (Icare tonometer).  Where possible, Mark and Avni will avoid the slit-lamp test as this involves closer doctor/patient contact (although patients are protected by a plastic screen for when it’s necessary). We will also minimise the use of drops.
  • Either Sandrine or Anabela will be in the office to book your follow-up appointments and any further tests or treatments. Payments can safely be made on the day or afterwards via bank transfer/secure online payment.
  • We are of course always contactable on non-clinic days during the week via telephone or email.  The practice is (thankfully) totally electronic and we have secure access to everyone’s notes and accounts.

Please rest assured that coming in to see us is as safe as it possibly can be.  Obviously if your journey is difficult, or you would prefer to postpone, please let us know and Mark will review your file and let you know how long it’s safe to postpone for. We’re contactable directly by phone and email Mon-Fri (and email is monitored intermittently at weekends too).

All the very best and keep safe.

Mark, Sandrine, Avni and Anabela

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Feb
05

From the Front Line: Mark on volunteering at the Royal London Hospital’s Covid ITU

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Mark in full PPE

As you may have read, several of the large NHS London hospitals and Covid centres put out a call for staff volunteers to help out on their Intensive Therapy Units (ITUs) by doing shifts. As a result, many ophthalmologists, myself included, have volunteered. However, we consultants are so specialised in our field of ophthalmology that we are of limited use for acute care of the patient!  On ITU, we were usually asked to act as “gofers“ – fetching things, stock-checking, proning patients, doing video calls with patient relatives, or writing down readings from the multitude of monitors. Having said that, nothing quite prepares you for the shock of seeing so many critically ill  patients on ventilators.

As the pressure on the ITU at the Royal London has eased just a little bit recently, thankfully, the ITU have asked us to use our expertise in managing eye problems in these very sick patients – after all, that is what we do best. You may think that worrying about eye problems, is, for some of these patients, the least of their problems. However, caring properly for the eyes is quite a challenge for unconscious patients. These patients can develop serious drying out of the cornea, which can result in corneal ulcers, because the normal eyelid closure and blink reflex mechanism doesn’t work. In severe cases you can loose vision. Thankfully, most cases can be prevented by applying intensive lubricating ointments to the eyes and the ITU teams are very good at recognising those patients most at risk. We take over the management of the more severe cases.

Although we have seen quite a few cases, I am pleased to say that collectively we have not had any cases of severe sight loss at the Royal London, which is quite gratifying given the frightening numbers in ITU.  At the very least, the work of my ophthalmic colleagues and I relieves the ITU nurses and doctors so that they can concentrate on the critical care – and we can help by playing a small part.

Above is a picture of me taken in the donning room where we gown up before entering the ITU. Communication is challenging because of the masks so we write our name, and the specialty on our gowns . At least we don’t have to write “Ophthalmology”.

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Jan
22

Lockdown 3 and Medical Appointments

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Dear patients and professional colleagues,

We trust that you are all keeping well.

As we find ourselves in yet another lockdown, we wanted to remind everyone that medical appointments are exempt from the restrictions.   We will continue to care for our patients as normal in our safe clinic environment with strict hygiene and social distancing protocols in place (see below).  We’re also contactable directly by phone and email Mon-Fri (and email is monitored intermittently at weekends too).

For the moment all non-urgent surgery has been put on hold, but we would expect this to change in the next few weeks, as the hospitals Mark operates at are not currently needed for Covid patients.  Mark will make the final decision when he feels that it is safe to start again – this may well be after the hospitals have re-opened to elective surgery.  We are keeping a careful waiting list and will be in touch as soon as he feels that the risks are low.

All our patient-facing team in the clinic have now been fortunate enough to have a vaccine.  Obviously we will continue taking all the precautions necessary to keep our patients safe.

Procedures in place for your visit to the Clinic:

  • Patients arriving at the Clinic will be given a sterile face mask, asked questions about current health, have their temperature taken and will be asked to sanitise their hands.
  • Only the patient will be allowed to enter the London Clinic Eye Centre. We have to maintain social distancing where at all possible. Whilst we have ample space, this is jeopardised if patients are accompanied by relatives, partners or friends. This rule currently applies to the vast majority of private and NHS hospitals. Relatives who come by car will be asked to wait in the car. The only exception to this rule is designated carers. If there are concerns or problems with this then please let us know in advance of any visit.
  • Rest assured that strict social distancing rules are applied in our waiting rooms.  We’re fortunate in that even on our floor we have 4 separate areas for patients – although with appointments more spaced out, it’s unlikely they would ever all be used.
  • Mark and Avni wear disposable gloves and aprons which are changed for each patient. Rooms are disinfected between patients.  All practice staff wear masks.

We have redesigned and streamlined the patient journey in order to reduce the waiting time by:

  • Minimising essential tests – for example we will not usually dilate patients’ pupils. Where possible, we will avoid performing visual fields when another test will do.  For example, with the OCT scan, we can broadly maintain the 2-meter separation rule, so we rely more on these tests. We have a new eye pressure machine which is quicker, more comfortable and minimises close-up examination time (Icare tonometer).  Where possible, Mark and Avni will avoid the slit-lamp test as this involves closer doctor/patient contact (although patients are protected by a plastic screen for when it’s necessary). We will also minimise the use of drops.
  • Either Sandrine or Anabela will be in the office to book your follow-up appointments and any further tests or treatments. Payments can safely be made on the day or afterwards via bank transfer/secure online payment.
  • We are of course always contactable on non-clinic days during the week via telephone or email.  The practice is (thankfully) totally electronic and we have secure access to everyone’s notes and accounts.

Please rest assured that coming in to see us is as safe as it possibly can be.  Obviously if your journey is difficult, or you would prefer to postpone, please let us know and Mark will review your file and let you know how long it’s safe to postpone for.

All the very best and keep safe.

Mark, Sandrine, Avni and Anabela

 

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Dec
21

Tier 4 restrictions and medical appointments

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Dear patients and professional colleagues,

We trust that you are all keeping well.

As London and much of the South East heads into Tier 4 restrictions, we thought we should re-emphasise that medical appointments are exempt from the restrictions.   We will continue to care for our patients as normal in our safe clinic environment with strict hygiene and social distancing protocols in place (see below).

We have also been carrying out surgery very successfully for some months now, ensuring that national procedures regarding self-isolation and Covid testing are adhered to prior to surgery.

Procedures in place for your visit to the Clinic:

  • Patients arriving at the Clinic will be given a sterile face mask, asked questions about current health, have their temperature taken and will be asked to sanitise their hands.
  • Only the patient will be allowed to enter the London Clinic Eye Centre. We have to maintain social distancing where at all possible. Whilst we have ample space, this is jeopardised if patients are accompanied by relatives, partners or friends. This rule currently applies to the vast majority of private and NHS hospitals. Relatives who come by car will be asked to wait in the car. The only exception to this rule is designated carers. If there are concerns or problems with this then please let us know in advance of any visit.
  • Rest assured that strict social distancing rules are applied in our waiting rooms.  We’re fortunate in that even on our floor we have 4 separate areas for patients – although with appointments more spaced out, it’s unlikely they would ever all be used.
  • Mark and Avni wear disposable gloves and aprons which are changed for each patient. Rooms are disinfected between patients.  All practice staff wear masks.

We have redesigned and streamlined the patient journey in order to reduce the waiting time by:

  • Minimising essential tests – for example we will not usually dilate patients’ pupils. Where possible, we will avoid performing visual fields when another test will do.  For example, with the OCT scan, we can broadly maintain the 2-meter separation rule, so we rely more on these tests. We have a new eye pressure machine which is quicker, more comfortable and minimises close-up examination time (Icare tonometer).  Where possible, Mark and Avni will avoid the slit-lamp test as this involves closer doctor/patient contact (although patients are protected by a plastic screen for when it’s necessary). We will also minimise the use of drops.
  • Either Sandrine or Anabela will be in the office to book your follow-up appointments and any further tests or treatments. Payments can safely be made on the day or afterwards via bank transfer/secure online payment.
  • We are of course always contactable on non-clinic days during the week via telephone or email.  The practice is (thankfully) totally electronic and we have secure access to everyone’s notes and accounts.

Please rest assured that coming in to see us is as safe as it possibly can be.  Obviously if your journey is difficult, or you would prefer to postpone, please let us know and Mark will review your file and let you know how long it’s safe to postpone for.

Meanwhile we would like to wish all our patients and colleagues a merry Christmas, even if it’s not quite the one you anticipated, and a healthy and happy New Year.

All the very best and keep safe.

Mark, Sandrine, Avni and Anabela

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Nov
02

Medical appointments exempt from restrictions: Keeping patients safe

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Dear patients and professional colleagues,

We hope that you are all keeping well.

Sadly another lockdown is needed, but the Government has been very clear that medical appointments are exempt from the restrictions.  Some of the conditions we see are very treatable conditions if identified and managed, but can be sight-threatening if not.  We will continue to care for our patients as normal in our safe clinic environment with strict hygiene and social distancing protocols in place (see below).

We have also been carrying out surgery very successfully for some months now, ensuring that national procedures regarding self-isolation and Covid testing are adhered to prior to surgery.

Procedures in place for your visit to the Clinic:

  • Patients arriving at the Clinic will be given a sterile face mask, asked questions about current health, have their temperature taken and will be asked to sanitise their hands.
  • Only the patient will be allowed to enter the London Clinic Eye Centre. We have to maintain social distancing where at all possible. Whilst we have ample space, this is jeopardised if patients are accompanied by relatives, partners or friends. This rule currently applies to the vast majority of private and NHS hospitals. Relatives who come by car will be asked to wait in the car. The only exception to this rule is designated carers. If there are concerns or problems with this then please let us know in advance of any visit.
  • Rest assured that strict social distancing rules are applied in our waiting rooms.  We’re fortunate in that even on our floor we have 4 separate areas for patients – although with appointments more spaced out, it’s unlikely they would ever all be used.
  • Mark and Avni wear disposable gloves and aprons which are changed for each patient. Rooms are disinfected between patients.  All practice staff wear masks.

We have redesigned and streamlined the patient journey in order to reduce the waiting time by:

  • Minimising essential tests – for example we will not usually dilate patients’ pupils. Where possible, we will avoid performing visual fields when another test will do.  For example, with the OCT scan, we can broadly maintain the 2-meter separation rule, so we rely more on these tests. We have a new eye pressure machine which is quicker, more comfortable and minimises close-up examination time (Icare tonometer).  Where possible, Mark and Avni will avoid the slit-lamp test as this involves closer doctor/patient contact (although patients are protected by a plastic screen for when it’s necessary). We will also minimise the use of drops.
  • Either Sandrine or Anabela will be in the office to book your follow-up appointments and any further tests or treatments. Payments can safely be made on the day or afterwards via bank transfer/secured online payment.
  • We are of course always contactable on non-clinic days during the week via telephone or email.  The practice is (thankfully) totally electronic and we all have secure access to everyone’s notes and accounts.

Please rest assured that coming in to see us is as safe as it possibly can be.  Obviously if your journey is difficult, or you would prefer to postpone for another reason, please let us know and Mark will review your file and let you know how long it’s safe to postpone for.

Our priority over the last few months has been to manage our patients’ care as safely as possible, and we’re very confident that we’re set up to do that.

All the very best and keep safe.

Mark, Sandrine, Avni and Anabela

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