ASN Appointments
What is an ASN (Additional Support Needs) appointment?
The aim of this type of appointment is to accommodate children and adults who have additional support needs and may require adaptations to ensure they feel safe, comfortable and understood throughout the process of eye examinations and other appointments.
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How does it work?
Pre-appointment:
If a patient or carer selects 'ASN' appointment via our online booking system, over the phone or in practice, the patient can expect:
A triage to help us gain an understanding of their needs:
Prior to the appointment, we will use our checklist provided by Sense Scotland to help us build a picture of the patient needs and any specific adaptions they require. This could include things like low lighting, a quieter appointment time or an accessible examination room. If a patient has booked online, this will be emailed to the patient or carer to fill out before-hand. If they have booked via the phone, this will be done on the call.- Pre-appointment familiarisation – Some patients might feel more comfortable when they know what to expect from their eye examination.
We can do this by:
- Sharing photos with the patient or carer showing the practice and stages of the eye examination.
- A visit to the practice before hand for the patient to explore the surroundings.
- A pre-appointment telephone call so the patient or carer can ask further questions they may have.
Day of appointment:
- Sensory considerations will be implemented as per triage details.
- We will ensure a prompt start time where possible to avoid a long wait.
- Our trained staff will use clear and simple language – where suitable, visual prompts can be provided.
- Patients are welcome to have someone to attend the appointment with them, such as a parent or carer who may provide comfort or communication assistance.
- The appointment length is slightly longer than our standard eye test, leaving time to go at the patient’s pace and accommodate any comfort breaks needed. Time for questions.
Prescription & follow up:
After the appointment, the patient will receive a simple explanation of the findings of the examination. A follow-up plan will be made if required, this may involve information for further referrals or contact options.
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