Specsavers NI stores locally remain open

While the key message is ‘stay at home’ under NI Assembly guidance, people are allowed to leave their houses to attend medical appointments, which include optician’s appointments and hearing tests, as these are considered essential healthcare services.

If customers cannot leave home unaccompanied for an eye test, they can request a home visit from Specsavers instead.

Sean McCauley, Specsavers NI Regional Chair and optometry partner at stores in Londonderry’s Crescent Link and Ferryquay Street, said: “It’s a challenging time for everyone but it’s essential that we remain open throughout this current phase. As opticians and audiologists, we are classified as essential healthcare workers, and all our professional and health bodies have requested that we continue to provide care.

“Customers are also asked to request an appointment in advance by phone or online through the Specsavers website to help manage social distancing and minimise time spent in store. It is also important that people attend their appointments to ensure their eye, hearing and overall health is not at risk during this time.

“We understand that customers may have concerns about coming into store but the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues is paramount and, in line with NHS recommendations and Public Health guidance, we have numerous safety measures in place.”

These include restrictions on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time, social distancing, and bank card instead of cash payments, where possible. Specsavers’ colleagues use personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the stores, wear face masks and other PPE during tests, and all testing equipment and frames are thoroughly sanitised before and after each use.

Specsavers will also continue to offer its remote services for people who are self-isolating, vulnerable or unable to leave their home. These services include:

RemoteCare – a free consultation service offering advice and care via video and telephone link

Ask The Expert – a Facebook group designed to give people access to professionals seven days a week, who can answer questions about general eye and hearing health concerns

Remote tuning – Fine tuning compatible hearing aids from afar without customers needing to come into store

An e-commerce service so that glasses and contact lenses can be bought online with a current prescription for those who can’t attend a store

An online replacement service for lost or broken glasses

Each Specsavers store is owned by independent partners who make decisions locally in their community, including their opening hours, which may be influenced by their own or their team’s personal situation during this current lockdown.

Sean McCauley thanked customers for their patience and understanding and paid tribute to his fellow Specsavers store partners and their teams, who, as part of the key worker cohort, are keeping essential services going for customers and supporting their NHS colleagues to provide critical care where it is most needed.

Specsavers will continue to follow the guidance from government, health and professional bodies over the coming period.

For more information and for individual store opening hours visit www.specsavers.co.uk

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