IN AN EFFORT to provide accessible eye care within the local community, Specsavers Sutton held an out-of-hours clinic for people experiencing homelessness in the area.
The locally owned and run store, located at 76 High Street, Sutton offered free eye tests and glasses last week after business hours to create a comfortable and quieter environment where those in need could speak to a healthcare professional.
As part of a nationwide campaign for World Homeless Day, which takes place on 10 October, more than 180 Specsavers stores and Home Visits businesses will hold out-of-hours or pop-up clinics and invite those affected by any form of homelessness to make use of their services.
In partnership with Sutton Night Watch the clinic held at the Specsavers Sutton store welcomed members of the local community. Those who popped into the store were offered a sight test, OCT scan and glasses.
This clinic was part of Specsavers’ wider homelessness programme to mark World Homeless Day by continuing to improve access to eye care for people experiencing homelessness or facing other barriers to care – whether financial, residential or not being eligible for NHS support.
Jamil Nanda, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Sutton says: ‘To mark World Homeless Day, we were pleased to host our first out-of-hours clinic to offer our services to people experiencing homelessness.
‘I am incredibly proud of the team and to Sutton Night Watch who helped make this possible. It is our long-term aim to ensure that everyone can access free, appropriate eye and hearing care which ultimately will help improve quality of life.
‘Specsavers as a business, and as a local team within the Sutton community, is committed to making healthcare accessible to everyone. I really hope that this helps raise awareness of the issue and the current barriers people are facing.’
Nadine Kennedy, Service Centre and Fundraising Manager from Sutton Night Watch says: ‘We were very grateful to the team from Specsavers Sutton who hosted an out of hours eye clinic for our service users. The feedback we received was wonderful as they really appreciated the help provided by the team.’
As well as running eye and ear care clinics across stores outside of World Homeless Day, Specsavers also collaborates with Crisis, Vision Care, Big Issue and other homelessness services to create long-term solutions to remove healthcare barriers.
Specsavers is also calling for changes to government policy to remove unnecessary barriers that make it difficult for people experiencing homelessness to access the eye and ear care they need. Long term plans include influencing policy and systems, so people affected have access to free ear checks, eye tests and glasses, and replacement glasses if broken, lost or stolen.
To find out more, visit specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/community/homelessness or to book a sight test contact Specsavers Sutton on 020 8643 3434 or you can book online https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/sutton
