A year on from opening, Specsavers Fox Valley has revealed details of a further £30k store investment, as it's set to continue to remain open to the community for all eye and hearing care needs throughout the third lockdown.
Following a £350k investment for the store’s launch in early 2020, half a dozen extra jobs were created. The latest investment has seen the store develop and kit out a third test room with state-of-the-art optical equipment as well as take on two extra colleagues, helping to minimise waiting times for customers and enabling them to be seen quicker.
Humma Khalid, the store’s ophthalmic director, comments: ‘None of us could ever have predicted what 2020 would pan out like when we launched this time last year.
‘Although it’s been a really tough year for the high street and for everyone, our team feel really proud to have been able to provide essential healthcare services for the local community over the successive lockdowns.’
Under current government guidance, people are allowed to leave home to attend medical appointments, including eye and hearing tests, which are considered essential healthcare services.
Humma continues: ‘We know this is such a difficult time for everyone but it is essential that we remain open to continue to provide care, especially for key workers, and to help support our partners in the NHS to provide critical care where it is most needed.
‘It is also important that people attend their appointments to ensure their eye, hearing and overall health is not at risk during this time.
‘We understand that customers may have concerns about coming into store, but the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues is paramount and, in line with NHS recommendations and Public Health guidance, we have numerous safety measures in place.’
Measures include restrictions on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time, social distancing, and bankcard payments, instead of cash, where possible.
Specsavers’ colleagues use personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the stores and frames are thoroughly sanitised before and after each use. Customers are also asked to request an appointment in advance by phone or online through the Specsavers website to help manage social distancing and minimise time spent in store.
Specsavers will continue to offer its remote services for people who are self-isolating, vulnerable or unable to leave their home. These services include:
- RemoteCare – a free nationwide consultation service offering advice and care via video and telephone link
- Ask The Expert – a Facebook group designed to give people access to professionals seven days a week, who can answer questions about general eye and hearing health concerns
- Remote tuning – Fine tuning compatible hearing aids from afar without customers needing to come into store
- An e-commerce service so that glasses and contact lenses can be bought online with a current prescription for those who can’t attend a store
- An online replacement service for lost or broken glasses
