Healthcall enters Ireland

Specsavers has confirmed the opening of its domiciliary arm, Healthcall, in the Republic of Ireland.

The service has been launched following a partnership between Specsavers and the founders of a Dublin-based home-visiting opticians service, HomeCall.

Providing eye care to housebound people, Specsavers Healthcall enters Ireland with the support of brother and sister team Paddy and Teresa Flanagan, who join Specsavers Healthcall under a joint venture partnership. 

While the service is initially available in the greater Dublin area, there are already plans to expand nationally, Specsavers confirmed.

Speaking about the partnership, optometrist and co-founder of HomeCall, Mr Flanagan said: “‘This is a very exciting development for our team and our patients.”

Chair of Specsavers Ireland, Sinead Clohessy, added: “Having served communities across Ireland for more than 26 years, Specsavers believes in great value and professional eye care for all delivered by local partners. This includes those people who cannot access one of our 50 stores nationwide, whether they are housebound or a care home resident.”

Launched in 2013, Specsavers Healthcall follows the same joint venture partnership business model as its stores, with partners buying into specific territories. Roll out in the UK was completed first, and the establishment of two domiciliary partnerships in Northern Ireland followed.

As a domiciliary business, Specsavers Healthcall aims to offer its customers the same services that would be available to them in practice. This includes the multiple’s 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.