Chesterfield’s central retail zone and surrounding shopping centres have a practice from each of five of the UK’s top 10 largest optometric chains (Optician 13.05.16). These include Specsavers, Vision Express, Boots, Tesco and Scrivens.
Kate Christian (pictured below, dispensing optician at Tesco Opticians describes Chesterfield as a ‘typical northern market town’. It was once reliant on coal mining but has ‘fought back’ since the closing of the pits with workers now within customer service industries.
She says: ‘The high street is a mix of traditional shops that have kept business despite several recessions, along with the newer pound shops, charity shops and a large Primark. Most shoppers rely on large out of central town retail parks, where we are situated. This also gives us a large footfall every day which is important in a changing optical market, with competition from online spectacle retailers.
‘With the free sight test, 80% of our patients are private and we are ensuring all customers have access to the important health check an eye examination provides. Spectacles start from £15, which are great for our NHS customers or a cheap spare pair. We also stock designer ranges such as Givenchy, Ray Ban and Oakley. This means good eyewear is within reach of everyone and this makes eye care accessible to all.’
A direct referral service is run in the Wheatbridge GP surgery complex close to the town centre. Practitioners in the area can refer non-urgent referrals to this dedicated eye centre. GPs dealing with these referrals then triage patients and refer for ophthalmic treatment at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. All urgent referrals go direct to the Royal Hospital.
‘When the eye centre at the Royal Hospital opened in 2012, all ophthalmic services were transferred there from outpatient clinics across the town. Wheatbridge has meant there is one centre for all non-urgent ophthalmic management and treatment in the town,’ adds Christian.
In the town centre, where competition is hottest, Specsavers’ branch employs 60 staff.
Its director, Vicki Bainbridge, says: ‘The majority of our customers live within five miles of the store. Previously people travelled at least 10 miles to see us in Chesterfield. At the start of this year a second store was set-up in Matlock and this has seen a migration of these customers. Chesterfield has a real community feel, the people are friendly.
‘Being able to differentiate ourselves in an increasingly competitive market is a challenge. The majority of our frame sales come from our own brand range.
‘We also provide training opportunities to progress the careers of our staff and students. The majority of our optometry team are trained and accredited for Mecs, should it come to north Derbyshire. We contribute to the eye care profession by using our facilities and expertise.’
Who's in town
Total: 9
Independents: 4
Multiples: 5
Average costs
Prices for an eye examination range from free to £25. The average cost is £18.63. One independent provides a dispensing service, and does not offer eye examinations.
Population - see pie chart, left
Chesterfield population: 104,030 (2011 Census)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Derbyshire Local Optical Committee has secured contracts for NHS North Derbyshire CCG in glaucoma repeat readings, low vision and cataract referral.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Chesterfield is £160,674, compared with an average of £189,901 for England and Wales (Rightmove, 2016).
- NHS expenditure on vision problems per person is £100, compared with the UK average of £89 (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015).
- 4,830 patients live in Chesterfield with drusen-related early stage AMD, 760 with wet AMD and 370 with dry AMD (RNIB).
- There are 1,170 patients living in Chesterfield with cataract, 1,020 with glaucoma, 6,980 suffer from with diabetes and 2,100 patients have diabetic retinopathy (RNIB).
Fun facts
- Some locals say the 13th century spire of the Crooked Spire Church in Chesterfield (pictured above) was twisted by the devil, others say it was the use of unseasoned timber.
- Claytons of Chesterfield are one of the leading cricket ball leather manufacturers in England. Sir John Hurt was born and raised in Chesterfield.
- Nearby limestone caves at Creswell Crags contain art painted during the Ice Age.
- George Stephenson moved to Chesterfield to build the North Midland public railway, he is known as ‘the father of the railways’.