Health Board chair meets experts delivering eye care on the Welshpool high street

The Chair and Vice Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board, Dr Carl Cooper and Rhiannon Beaumont-Wood, as part of their visits to contracted optometry providers in the area, have visited Specsavers Welshpool to see how its experts deliver local eye care.

Dr Carl Cooper, Health Board Chair, spoke to the team about the NHS services provided by the locally owned and run store, which is located at Mill Lane Retail Park.

Dr Cooper also discussed matters related to delivering the provision of same-day urgent appointments for customers experiencing sudden changes in vision or eye discomfort, without the need for a GP referral.

‘It was a pleasure to learn more about how Specsavers Welshpool, together with other contracted providers, is looking after the local community’s health and supporting the high street by providing valuable jobs in health and retail care,’ says Dr Cooper.

‘It’s encouraging to see same-day urgent eye care available in the community outside of GP practices, helping ensure people can access timely care when they need it most.’

Lowri Evans, director at the store says that the visit was an opportunity to talk to the Health Board chair about the role of community opticians.

‘We are proud to be part of our community,’ Ms Evans says. ‘Specsavers is committed to working with local Health Boards to ensure everyone has access to the community eye services they need.’

‘In Wales, our optometrists can diagnose and treat many eye conditions without a GP referral, so if you notice any changes in your vision, don’t wait. Contact your optician.’

Specsavers has more than 1,000 stores throughout the UK, including 55 in Wales, and is the leading provider of NHS primary care optometry services – testing more than 20 million eyes every year.

To find out more information about Specsavers in Welshpool, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/welshpool.

Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.