An optometrist has completed a four-day road trip to deliver home care to customers across the West of Scotland.
Derek Watts, optometry director for Specsavers Aberdeen Home Visits, traveled across the country from Nairn to the Isle of Skye on a four-day road trip to carry out eye exams in the comfort of patient’s homes.
Derek used portable equipment including pressure tests to assess glaucoma risk and carried out overall health checks of the eyes, testing for specific eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy.
Over the trip, which spanned Nairn, Lairg, Durness, Lochinver, Aultbea, Gairloch, Strathcarron, and Portree, Derek treated twenty-six customers, with the furthest visit a three-hour round trip to the Highlands.
Derek says: ‘It’s a joy to be able to travel and help our customers, no matter where they are in Scotland. After 10 years of helping people all across the North of Scotland it means the world to me.
‘I’m lucky to be able to do this job and I can’t complain, I meet lovely people and enjoy lots of beautiful scenery too. In fact, one customer offered me a spare wetsuit in case I had time for a swim!’
One of the appointments included Derek visiting a care home in the Highlands. The staff and patients were so happy to see him, and the team asked to book another visit. Instead of scheduling another appointment, Derek worked overtime, so the residents wouldn’t have to wait until he was back on the road again.
Derek continued: ‘We completely understand that if you have a physical or mental illness, or disability, then you may be unable to leave home without assistance to come to your local store for a sight or hearing check.
‘This can also be true for people who are blind or partially sighted, older (usually those aged over 60), or have conditions such as arthritis or dementia, meaning that a home visit is an essential part of staying healthy. We also see younger people who are vulnerable and cannot leave their homes unaccompanied due to medical reasons.
‘‘To us, covering rural locations is a very important part of the job, for many, stores may be too far away, or you may be unable to go in store. Whilst the Home Visits team is located in Aberdeen, we can reach those rural locations, so even if you are at the North of Scotland, we will still come to you.’
Specsavers Home Visits ensures that those who are eligible have access to a free NHS-funded eye test or hearing check in the comfort of their own home whether that be private homes, care homes or sheltered accommodations.
The mobile team provides essential care, from routine eye or hearing checks to updating glasses prescriptions, for those who are unable to visit a store unaccompanied.
Specsavers’ makes sure that your home visit is tailored to your specific needs and is conducted with the same care and attention that you would expect in store.
To speak to a member of the team, or book a Specsavers Home Visit, call 0808 239 5012 or visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/home-visits.
