The former spa town of Matlock in Derbyshire is located at the south-eastern edge of the Peak District and at a sharp bend in the River Derwent. The sleepy town – sometimes referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’ – attracts hordes of tourists every year to enjoy its scenic surroundings – including the Heights of Abraham that are reached by cable car and provide views over the Derwent Valley.
Dale Opticians, one of two independent practices in Matlock, opened 15 years ago and is located next to the town's bridge. Practice owner John Southgate describes Matlock as a ‘nice, friendly market town’. ‘Patients here are really friendly with a largely older population. A lot of people in their twenties and thirties buy their spectacles in the surrounding larger towns along with their other purchases,’ he says, adding: ‘Our patients do seem to be the more discernible spenders, understanding the need for excellent products along with an individual personal customer service that we, as an independent opticians can provide. We are also the only opticians in Matlock that provides an in-house domiciliary service.’
Although situated 20 miles from Sheffield and Derby, John says the practice is still able to attract business from as far afield as Cheadle: ‘We had a patient recently who had seen our Police frames window display and came in to enquire. We were able to get the frame and glaze it as a sunspec before his holiday a few weeks later.’
Down the road, newcomer Specsavers has wasted little time immersing itself in the local community since opening its doors in February 2016. From sponsoring and supporting the local football club, schools, the Women’s Institute and even the town’s Christmas Tree, the multiple, comprising six resident practitioners.
‘It is quite an affluent area and people really respond to optician recommendations for products. We sell a lot of varifocals and polarised lenses,’ he says.
Webster splits his time between Matlock and the Chesterfield branch of Specsavers, which has 10 clinics and 60 staff members.
‘What I like about working in Matlock is that I have more time to really get to know the customers from registration and testing to dispensing. There is more time to go through the benefits of the products and I think the patients really appreciate that.’
Who’s in town
Total: 4
Independents: 2
Multiples: 2
Average costs
£29.13
Population - see pie chart
Matlock (All Saints and St Giles) population: 10,885 (Derbyshire County Council, 2015)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Derbyshire LOC has secured a contract for NHS Erewash CCG in Cataract Referral and South Derbyshire CCG in Children’s Vision.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Matlock is £233,091 (Rightmove, 2016) compared with an average of £220,713 for the UK (May 2017, Land Registry)
- NHS expenditure on vision problems in Derbyshire per person is £99, compared with the UK average of £89 (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015)
- 5,580 patients live in Derbyshire with late stage wet AMD and 2,720 with dry AMD (RNIB).
- There are about 8,730 people living in Derbyshire who have cataract, 7,790 people with glaucoma and 53,390 with diabetes. Some 15,760 people are living with diabetic retinopathy, according to RNIB figures.
Fun facts
Pioneering industrialist John Smedley developed the market town as a fashionable spa in the 19th century.
Matlock gives its name to the lead-based mineral, Matlockite.
Matlock Bath Illuminations, an annual family event in September and October, features a parade of illuminated boats.
The town has planted and launched its first vineyard, Amber Valley Wines.
Dead Man’s Shoes, the 2004 film by Shane Meadows, was filmed in and around Matlock.
