Practice of the Year 2015

Located in Newcastle city centre, G.T. Harvey & Partners Optometrists prides itself on offering comprehensive eye examinations, combined with a made-to-measure approach to dispensing 

G.T. Harvey & Partners Optometrists is an award-winning independent opticians in Newcastle city centre which has been serving the local community since 1927. 

The practice has specific interests in dyslexia, dry eye, macular degeneration, myopia control and sports vision. It aims to offer a professional, caring and comprehensive optometric service for patients, whatever their eye care needs. 

Keen to promote the role of optometry within the local community, staff at the practice are involved in giving educational presentations to patients and producing informative leaflets. 

In addition, the practice delivers sports vision talks to elite athletes at Newcastle University and Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club which are designed to promote the importance of utilising their vision as much as possible and, perhaps more importantly, on protecting their eyes from injury and lasting damage.

Over the last 12 months the practice has focused its attentions on two initiatives. While the first aims to educate patients about UV radiation exposure by highlighting the potential risk to their eyes; the second has seen it establish a bespoke dispensing service. 

Commenting on the latter, which Mr Henderson said he is “particularly pleased with,” the service sees the practice’s three dispensing opticians discuss the benefit of having a made-to-measure pair of spectacles with patients. “This ensures there are no limitations imposed on the patient’s choice due to prescription or facial characteristics,” he explained. 

Speaking about the success of the bespoke dispensing initiative, Mr Henderson said: “This initiative has had a three-fold benefit. Most importantly, it has been very beneficial to the patients as it ensures that they get a pair of spectacles which fit perfectly and which are unique to them. This helps to make patients feel special.” 

When asked what he considers the three factors which make G.T. Harvey & Partners’ stand out from its peers are, Mr Henderson credits its private dispensing rooms, use of the latest technology and its range of clinics for patients with dry eye, specific learning difficulties and sports vision.