Healthcare expansion

Last month the business reported record-breaking sales, with figures reaching over £1m for the first time. 

Launched in 2013, Specsavers Healthcall follows the same joint venture partnership business model as its stores, with partners buying into specific territories. The expansion plans have created a number of vacancies for optometrists, optical advisers and customer care specialists within the business. 

Specsavers co-founder, Dame Mary Perkins, commented: “Specsavers Healthcall very much matches up with our vision of eye care for everybody. After 30 years some of our longstanding customers are now housebound or in care homes so this enables us to continue our care for them.

“The ability to provide eye care to very vulnerable people is incredibly rewarding and will really appeal to many optical staff, who by their very nature tend to be very caring individuals. Being out and about and being your own boss is of course also very appealing to many.”

As a domiciliary business, Specsavers Healthcall aims to offer its customers the same services which would be available to them in practice. This includes the multiple’s new dispensing measurements service Digital Precision Care, which is run through a tablet device. Staff also stock around 200 frames, with the mobile team typically consisting of an optometrist and customer services director, as well as an office-based schedule. 

Domiciliary joint venture partners Charlotte McGimpsey and Zetun Arif have been trading for 18 months and look after a territory which includes Chorley, Little Hulton, Bolton, Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Euxton, Bury, Wigan, St. Helens, Ormskirk and Southport, as well as some parts of Liverpool.   

Speaking about being a joint venture partner with Specsavers Healthcall, Ms Arif said: “We are now moving into our second year and have noticed a massive difference in our recurring business as the patients know who to expect, and love our service and compassion.”