Has Your Optician Gone Private? I Mean For Your Check Ups And Not Your Spectacles?

[Bobbisox1]

I received a text telling I was due my two year check up, I rang to make the appointment and was askedAre you NHS or private as it’s changed since you were here last?
Errr, NHS, I said as I’ve never paid before
In that case we will put you on our waiting list to be seen or you can pay £84 for a private appointment, if not we have 6&12 month plans where you can pay by DD

[johnny.5]

you should have gone to specsavers

someone had to say it lol

Am I right ?
I'm Not Wrong !

[maggiebee]

That's exactly what happened to me at my dentist last week. Going private in September so it will now cost me £23.50 per month or I can get a routine check up every 2 years! Hadn't heard about opticians, in fact I had a check-up a couple of weeks ago at no cost. This seems to be the way all our services are heading. We'll have to pay for a GP appointment next.

[rowanwitch]

The big chains are still doing free tests for over 60s, it's only the odd independent I suspect who are struggling against the bigger companies who are going 'private' in a bid to survive.

[Bobbisox1]

Rowan you could be right although mines a very busy practice in the centre of Newcastle

[ubasses]

Just checked my opticians website, still doing NHS check-ups. It is an independent company. If you want a scan they charge £25 as NHS will not cover it.
Also you should be receiving an NHS test annually at over 70.

[Bobbisox1]

Not at the practice I’m with Ubasses, time to change I think

[roopower]

I go to Asda, free eye checks for over 60s, I think it is and two pairs of glasses for £120

[Old_Geezer]

I thought they were all private. But gov allows some free tests ? I recall getting hornrim specs in primary school which I believe were on the government, but as soon as I wanted something better looking I had to pay anyway. I must've been mistaken.

Have to say I'm unimpressed with the Specsavers leaflet they sent me offering an eye test for just £10. At my age aren't they supposed to be free ?

[Bobbisox1]

That’s what I thought O_G

[ubasses]

Sounds like it Bobbi. I have been getting free annual checks for a while due to medical reasons, but as soon as Mr U reached 70 they have called him in every year.

[Bobbisox1]

I have a complex prescription and have had a lens implant around 7 years ago, this alone makes me a bit cautious about changing

[ubasses]

Understand that Bobbi, mines not straightforward either and I have deteriorating paralysis of the optic nerve to my left eye, Spent best part of this year going to Moorfields appointments.

[Bobbisox1]

Oh that’s not nice Ubasses

[rowanwitch]

Boots opticians might be able to handle your requirements, vision express and Specsavers are all about selling frames.

[brainiac]

I had a really good experience last week at Specsavers - hadn't had an eye test for 13 years and it was free. Friendly and professional

[Hopkirk]

I have nothing but praise for my Specsavers.

[douglas9401]

An optician in our Specsavers saw the boss, who was complaining about 'floaters' and a big black rectangle when she looked down.

A phone call to the shop, "Come in right away", a call to the Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh late Thursday evening for a proper look, operated on 8am, Friday for a detached retina. Sent home with a pirate patch and three kinds of drops with a follow up three weeks later.

No money changed hands at any point but the tubs of sweeties have been bought for optician, hospital reception and sundry medics to be delivered at the next appointment.

[bhg481]

OG - I think you might need to read the leaflet again. I think the £10 thing is an option which you don't need to have. As some others, I have nothing but praise for Specsavers; I've been with them for decades now and and any complains have been quickly and painlessly dealt with.

[Hopkirk]

The other thing is that Specsavers appear to be a big chain, but they are not.

It's a franchise so each one is a privately run business. That may also explain why some people have a better experience than others.

[bhg481]

Hoppy is absolutely right; we discovered this when we changed from the town centre branch in Reading to one they'd opened in our local Sainsbury's and found they didn't have our records. The other thing, which may be relevant to the cloth-eared amongst you (me included) is that not all branches do NHS hearing tests; I have my eyes done locally but still have to go into town for my NHS hearing aid. The supermarket branch do hearing tests but privately.