Specsavers hosts MP drop-in clinic

Specsavers has hosted a drop-in clinic in Parliament which focused on highlighting the importance of eye and hearing health amongst MPs.

During the event, the High Street opticians engaged with MPs and peers, using virtual reality headsets to provide insight into what it is like to experience certain sight conditions such as glaucoma.

MPs from across parties attended the drop-in clinic, which was hosted on 2 December, with a range of Specsavers optometrists and audiologists providing sight and hearing checks.

Speaking about the event, director of professional advancement at Specsavers, Paul Morris said: “It brought home the impact of eye diseases, and prompted conversations about the importance of continuing to raise awareness of eye health – including regular eye health checks – to prevent avoidable sight loss.”

Morris highlighted that the clinic allowed Specsavers to talk to MPs about the skills and expertise of community optometrists, dispensing opticians, audiologists and their teams, and their capacity to further support healthcare in the community.

“Fully using the skills of these sectors would be good for patients, ease pressure on hospitals and support government goals to shift healthcare from hospital to community,” he said.

The drop-in clinic also provided Specsavers with the opportunity to discuss the recommendations made in its 2025 access to care report, which was published in September.

On the report, Morris explained: “The report highlights how successful neighbourhood NHS schemes, such as glaucoma community services delivered by optometrists, work in parts of the UK while patients in other areas face a health postcode lottery.”

He added: “A key recommendation of the report is that these successful community schemes, including an NHS primary care audiology service for adults, must be expanded to improve access to care.”