Specsavers records almost one million EOS appointments over 12 month period

The number of patients who would have previously presented in hospital or to a GP that are now being seen at Specsavers practices on the High Street has more than doubled in the last four years, according to the multiple.

Data recorded by Specsavers reports that through enhanced optical services (EOS), the multiple performed nearly one million clinical eye health appointments between March 2022 and February 2023, up from 453,000 appointments for the same period in 2018–2019.

Specsavers reported that the largest group of patients were seen for a Minor Eye Condition Service (MECS) style consultation, with an estimated half a million appointments allocated for patients with acute eye symptoms over the last 12-month period. Furthermore, an estimated 80% of these patients were seen, treated and discharged within practice.

Head of enhanced optical services at Specsavers, Frank Moore, commented: “Not only are we are helping our patients access vital eye health appointments in a convenient and easy-to-access location, but we are also helping to support our NHS and healthcare colleagues by reducing the number of people who would otherwise need to be seen in a hospital or GP location.”

Moore confirmed that Specsavers is “continuing to seek opportunities” to deliver new and existing enhanced optical services across the UK, adding: “With the current challenges facing our NHS and health economies we know that primary care optometry will continue to be needed like never before.”