Despite a market crash in the granite city’s financially significant oil industry, local practices have had steady business due to biennial eye check-ups for UK citizens in Scotland being paid for by the Scottish government’s NHS budget. Yvonne Baxter, practice manager at west Aberdeen-based opticians Douglas Dickie, estimates 95% of eye tests given at the practice are covered by NHS Scotland.
Public awareness of NHS eye care entitlements in Scottish practices have come with increased clinical expectations from patients. Baxter says: ‘Our patients are aware that they have to attend their local optician if they have any eye-related health issues. This can be an issue if we have a full clinic. In Aberdeen there are a lot of opticians based in the city centre and we work together to accommodate the emergency patients.’
‘The new [Scotland-wide secure online] SCI gateway has certainly improved the patient care especially for the referrals because you have a clear audit trail of when the referral was sent and where it was sent to,’ adds Baxter.
In 2007, the regional health board, NHS Grampian, established the Eye Health Network to support the secure online referral system used by the area’s practitioners, called the ‘SCI gateway.’ Training schemes have since been delivered to the network’s members to ensure optometrists and supporting staff in Aberdeen can use the email referral system. It also facilitates networking between optometrists and ophthalmic practitioners at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Baxter says: ‘The Eye Health Network setup has meant that the demand to be seen for any eye-related issues is much higher than in any other [UK] city. It’s fantastic, you see a wide diversity of patients covering all age groups. Optometrists see a great deal of emergency patients, which can vary from a simple case of conjunctivitis to more complex issues like uveitis. With this in mind we have invested in our support staff so they are confident in triaging these emergency patients.’
Yvonne Baxter, branch manager at Douglas Dickie
Scottish chain Black and Lizars also runs a practice in the city. Its optometrist, Gillian McIIwraith, says: ‘The NHS system in Aberdeen is the same as the rest of Scotland but there are additional protocols in place under the Eye Health Network programme that allow optometrists to utilise their skills further. This means our days are more varied and clinically challenging.
‘The Grampian system is the best I have ever worked in. Communication between health care professionals in Grampian NHS tends to be very good. There is an acknowledgement and understanding of each job role’s expertise and how these are utilised within the NHS to give the best patient care possible.’
Affluence from local industry and free eye exams means that the frames stocked for dispense can be of higher calibre and expense. She adds: ‘Most people in the area are connected one way or another with the oil and gas industry on our doorstep, which is known to be very affluent. We tend to stock high end brands.’
Who's in town
Total: 12
Independents: 6
Multiples: 6
Average costs
Basic eye examination costs are covered by the Scottish government under NHS Scotland. Private eye examinations with extra charges for OCT retinal imaging scans are available to non-UK citizens who are not applicable for the NHS Scotland concession.
Population
Aberdeen population: 227,130 (2011 Census)
Community eye care
NHS Grampian uses the SCI referral gateway, but also offers a direct line for triage services. Extended primary care contracts with NHS Grampian have been acquired by practices, including services for foreign bodies and anterior uveitis.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Aberdeen is £200,997, compared with an average of £162,045 in Scotland (Registers of Scotland, 2016).
- NHS Grampian spend on vision per person is £79, compared with the average for Scotland of £89 (RNIB).
- 8,290 patients have early stage wet AMD, 1,290 with late stage wet AMD, 630 with late stage dry AMD (RNIB).
- 1,950 patients in the city have cataract, 2,110 have glaucoma and 13,620 suffer from diabetes, 4,740 have diabetic retinopathy (RNIB).
Fun facts
- Between March and August dolphin’s leap out the waves seen from Aberdeen harbour.
- Granite quarried in the area was used to build the Houses of Parliament and Waterloo Bridge.
- Eurythmics singer-songwriter, Annie Lennox, is an Aberdonian.
Annie Lennox
- Golf was created on Scotland’s east coast and now Aberdeen has a different golf course for every week of the year.
- Sir Alex Ferguson was Aberdeen FC’s most successful manager winning three Scottish titles, five cups and two European competitions.
