Specsavers & childrens eye exam

aeuerby

Just tried to book my 9yo eye exam at specsavers.

They now only offer after 3.30pm and not on Sunday's appoitnments because the children clog up their appointments.
Talk about second class citizens!

So, I'm off to vision express - unless someone can recommend another good for childrens glasses optician?

hollydays

What words did they use.Did they actually say children clog up their appointments.And no 3.30 appointments out of term time?sounds a bit strange?

aeuerby

Yep those exact words.

mishkanorman

This is usual practice, they qualify the appointments for a few reasons, Firstly as they told you because the NHS pay less for a sight test than private patients do so they spread them along the week to balance out the slight decrease in takings. Also for the patients benefit, they can ensure they have a dispensing optician available for the childrens clinic so there isnt too much waiting around if they need specs. The majority of kids dont require specs after an eye test either so it means the end of day stuff can be done.


Having said all that if they cant be bothered to explain it in a professional manner then I would go elsewhere.

private practices are often better for little ones as the quieter atmosphere is more pleasant for them,


HTH


mishka

aeuerby

My daughter has quite poor eyesight and does need glasses - the lenses have to be ordered in specially for her!
She is though usually in and out in the minimal amount of time as her eyes very rarely change.

Whenever we have been we are usually kept waiting at least half an hour and it is usually old dears that come dawdling out!

Anyway we have an appointment at 1pm with vision express.
If specsavers don't want to be inconvenienced by my daughter then that's fine!

badmumof1

aeuerby wrote:

Just tried to book my 9yo eye exam at specsavers.

They now only offer after 3.30pm and not on Sunday's appoitnments because the children clog up their appointments.
Talk about second class citizens!

So, I'm off to vision express - unless someone can recommend another good for childrens glasses optician?

whats wrong with after 3.30pm?
i thought 9yr olds are in school till 3pm
thats why specsavers dont offers appointments till after 3.30pm

btw children dont clog up the appointments its thats their eyetest differs for that of a adult so they dont need as much time.

we use specsavers and dont have any problems

Louisa_Jane_2

My children always have their eyes tested at Dolland and Aitchison - they can have any appointment as far as I'm aware. I always take the prescription and NHS voucher and buy the glasses at Specsavers as you can get their £129 designer range for £30 for under 16s(18s?).

aeuerby

badmumof1 wrote:

whats wrong with after 3.30pm?
i thought 9yr olds are in school till 3pm
thats why specsavers dont offers appointments till after 3.30pm

btw children dont clog up the appointments its thats their eyetest differs for that of a adult so they dont need as much time.

we use specsavers and dont have any problems

What about half term?

We've used specsavers for the last 5 years and always got an appointment that is convenient to us.
It was the lady at specsavers that told us children "clog up" their appointments, nothing to do with it being a school day.

Also if the idea is so children don't miss school (and what has it got to do with specsavers if children miss school?) why do they not allow appointments for children on a Sunday either? Some parents work Saturdays too you know?

badmumof1

in your original post you didnt state TERM TIME
so i am assuming you picked this up from the post below you.

specsavers DO test during the day during half term.
And its is to do with specsavers that your child misses school as they DO get complaints from the schools and they are only going by guidelines set by local authorities.
As a parent who takes pride in my sons education i personally wouldnt take my child out of school just for a regular eye test when this can be done after school.
i was told that i couldnt have a saturday appointment as the childs eye test doesnt require the same time as a adults on and therefore they cannot shuffle appointments up 15mins to accomodate so we just booked in after school.
our local specsavers dont open up on a sunday so i cannot comment on a sunday appointment.

mishkanorman

badmumof1 wrote:

in your original post you didnt state TERM TIME
so i am assuming you picked this up from the post below you.

specsavers DO test during the day during half term.
And its is to do with specsavers that your child misses school as they DO get complaints from the schools and they are only going by guidelines set by local authorities.
As a parent who takes pride in my sons education i personally wouldnt take my child out of school just for a regular eye test when this can be done after school.
i was told that i couldnt have a saturday appointment as the childs eye test doesnt require the same time as a adults on and therefore they cannot shuffle appointments up 15mins to accomodate so we just booked in after school.
our local specsavers dont open up on a sunday so i cannot comment on a sunday appointment.

I think the main point you are missing is that each specsavers is individually operated and as such they can book appointments as and when and to who they please. The OP has stated the case as has happened to them, if you experience differs it is due to this.


Children DO clog up appointments, I dont know where your information is coming from but its way off the mark,


mishka

Swattie

As children can have free eye tests I take my daughter to an independant optician with an excellent reputation with children.

As children's eye test are free on the NHS it makes no difference cost-wise whether it is Specsavers, Boots, D&A or an independant.