An NHS chemotherapy nurse was delighted after making an urgent visit to Stone’s Specsavers opticians for an eye test earlier this month.
Specsavers, located on Stone’s High Street, has suspended all routine testing for the foreseeable future to focus on essential and urgent care only, especially for key workers. The nurse visited the store after noticing her vision had been gradually deteriorating over the past couple of months, making it difficult for her to do her job in what are already challenging circumstances.
Koyas Ali, optometrist and store director, carried out an enhanced sight test, which included using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan that takes a detailed image of the back of the eye. The test revealed that her prescription had indeed changed since her last test more than three years ago.
‘It’s great that we’re able to do our bit and help to keep key workers in their roles,’ says Koyas. ‘The nurse hadn’t been able to make an appointment sooner due to the long hours she, like many in her position, has been working. She’d also just moved into the area so was grateful we could see her at short notice.
‘These are challenging times for all of us, but I’m really proud of the team for continuing to support each other, along with the wider community.’
Specsavers’ teams are classed as key workers to provide urgent and essential eye care to those who need it. That includes supporting other key workers who couldn’t function without their help and people who would come to harm without their health expertise, especially where the usual hospital services and NHS facilities are being prioritised for the fight against COVID-19.
Customers can phone the store for advice and to be assessed on the level of care that they might need, the only exception being key workers who are able to walk in and seek immediate advice. Glasses and contact lenses can also be purchased online for customers with a current prescription.
For more information, call the store on 01785 812308 or visit www.specsavers.co.uk
