Index February 2006: Feeling positive?

Good results in all benchmarks this month means the turnover figure is at its highest point since August 2003

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Total eye examinations are down over the last 12 months compared to the previous year by almost 6 per cent. Results are up by 7 per cent from January, unchanged from February 2005. The proportion that is attributable to NHS is 62 per cent again this month, indicating that NHS tests are declining slightly more than private eye examinations.

Recent NHS figures showed an increase in the number of sight tests paid for by primary care trusts and local health boards for England and Wales. For the period April to September 2005, an increase of 3.6 per cent was reported compared to the previous six months, October 2004 to March 2005, and an increase of 1.2 per cent for the six months April to September 2004. In our sample a decline of 2.2 per cent and 2.5 per cent was seen for the same respective periods. Eye examinations will be monitored and analysed more closely over the coming months following the re-introduction of free eye examinations in Scotland.

Dispensing of spectacles with single-vision and progressive lenses is up this month, compared to February 2005, by 2 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. Total dispensing is up 6 per cent from last February while bifocal lenses decline by 1 per cent.

On average for the year, dispensing has fallen by 5 per cent. Single- vision lenses, which account for over 69 per cent of all dispensing, have fallen by 5 per cent on average over the last 12 months. Bi-tri focal and progressives have fallen by 8 per cent and 6 per cent.

The dispensing rate for February was 68 per cent as last year, down from 71 per cent in January. Dispensing rate is calculated from total number of eye examinations and total dispensing, and hence does not take into account multiple dispensing.

Reflection-free coatings are down slightly from January's results (-2 per cent), up 9 per cent from last February. This has resulted in a higher percentage than seen last year; 46 per cent compared to 44 per cent. The average decline in AR coats for the year is down to -8 per cent from -11 per cent.

New contact lens fits have risen by 8 per cent from January and 5 per cent from February 2005. The trend is still negative at -2 per cent, better than recently, and while this could be good news, looking at the trends we can see that the early part of the year is often positive for new fits, compared to the second half of the year.

Solution sales are up 1 per cent from last month, but generally are declining by 3 per cent on average for the year.

Total practice turnover results are up by a further 8 per cent from January. Figures also exceed last February by 8 per cent, although there is still a general decline, now at -2 per cent over the last 12 months compared to the previous period. With such good results in all benchmarks this month it is not surprising that the turnover figure is at its highest point since August 2003.

Despite on the whole good results this February, spend per eye examination is down slightly again this month to 128.47, almost identical to last February at 128.42. The average for 2005 was 132.40, so perhaps immediately after Christmas there is a reluctance to spend quite so much on eyewear, when in December the figure was over 137.

When comparing your practice with the results it is important to note that all our figures are equated to a 25-day month, so year on year, month on month we can compare equal time periods.

PLEASE NOTE ALL FIGURES SHOWN ARE ADJUSTED TO A 25-DAY MONTH. February had 24 working days (excluding Sundays and UK Bank holidays).

New contributors always welcomed
Benefits of participation include customised graphs and comparisons, and contributors are able to make ad hoc enquiries, receiving feedback and results entirely free of charge. There is also the opportunity to benchmark other aspects of practice management or sales against the whole sample. The service is completely confidential.

If a practice would like to contribute to the Index please contact Louise Jarvis on 01622 851726, to discuss the benefits, no obligation, or by e-mail to l.jarvis@businessbenchmarks.co.uk


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