Nicknamed the ‘Queen of the South’ by locals, the historic market town of Dumfries became a royal burgh in the 12th century, and since then its agricultural and manufacturing industries have thrived. Though Dumfries’ population is just under 32,000, the town’s optical practices provide services for at least 150,000 people living in the county.
Dumfries’ Specsavers store is a joint-venture partnership between retail director Jill Dickson and dispensing director Joan Scott, whose husbands also work in the practice (pictured below). Scott believes this close partnership helps bring a family feel to the store. ‘People do see us as a family practice which helps welcome more families to the practice too, we see patients of every generation,’ she says.
Over the 22 years the practice has been open, it has grown from just seven staff members to 36, including seven optometrists and nine dispensing opticians. The practice conducts over 20,000 eye examinations a year, and offers hearing care three days a week, and Dumfries’ only glazing lab.
Recruiting optometrists in the area is the largest challenge the practice faces. Scott says: ‘We don’t tend to get qualified optometrists who want to relocate to Dumfries, but the pre-regs we have had do stick around.’
To alleviate the situation, the practice has resorted to a ‘grow-your-own’ scheme by supporting students from school through registration as optometrists. A similar pathway is in place for the provision of dispensing opticians.
Situated further outside the town centre is independent family practice Glen Barr Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians. ‘The removal of sight test fees in Scotland has definitely encouraged a wider use of optometry services,’ says third generation owner Colin Barr. ‘GPs are now more likely to refer common eye issues to an optometrist, and I think referrals to hospital eye services are becoming more considered also, though there can be a bit of a fight sometimes between primary and secondary care over who pays.’
The practice receives a high proportion of patients with complicated ocular issues, both refractive and pathology. Barr says: ‘We have patients from just about every walk of life, of all ages, and the people are always interesting. But as a consequence, we tend to be a problem solving practice which has its challenges.’
Yet the practice’s ‘problem solving’ reputation has helped it stand out against competition. ‘We always try to do out absolute best for every patient in every circumstance as it is the only way to survive as an independent in today’s cut-throat type hyper retail world. We survive by service and reputation, and so far, it has worked.’
Who’s in town?
Total: 6
Independents: 3
Multiples: 3
Average cost
Eye examination costs are covered by the Scottish government NHS budget. Stand-alone private eye exams are charged at the same rate as the NHS fee for their age group. Extra charges for enhanced services are available at costs decided by the service provider
Population - see pie chart
Dumfries and Galloway: 149, 670.
(Dumfries: 31,600)
Community eye care
NHS Dumfries and Galloway does not have any specific local contracts outside General Opthalmic Services.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Dumfries is £128,321 (Rightmove, 2017) compared with an average of £216,750 for England and Wales (Land Registry, 2016).
- NHS expenditure on vision problems in Dumfries and Galloway per person is £110, compared with the UK average of £89 (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015).
- 1,290 patients live in Dumfries and Galloway with late stage wet AMD and 630 with dry AMD (RNIB).
- There are about 2,010 people living in Dumfries and Galloway who have cataract, 1,560 people with glaucoma and 10,840 with diabetes.
Fun facts
The pedal bicycle was invented 14 miles from Dumfries in Kier Mill by a local blacksmith in 1839.
Dumfries has the highest ever recorded temperature in Scotland, when on July 2, 1908 it reached 91°F (31.8°C).
Dumfries has experienced two Boxing Day earthquakes. Fortunately, there were no serious consequences of either.
The Theatre Royal (pictured) in Dumfries was built in 1792 and is the oldest working theatre in Scotland.
People from Dumfries are known colloquially as Doonhamers.
Author James Matthew Barry, who wrote Peter Pan, attended school in Dumfries.
