A fitting image

York-based optometrist Ruth Perrott (pictured) celebrated the re-opening of her second practice this month following a major re-fit of the premises. The business, a typical house practice in the suburb of Acomb, was purchased last June.

Ruth has operated a domiciliary service in York for more than 20 years, so the Acomb practice was able to amalgamate both the existing patient base and the domiciliary list to provide a good start to trading.

Agreement was reached with the new landlord to modify the premises, removing an internal fireplace and providing disabled access to meet DDA requirements. To handle the planning aspects of the work Ruth used a local architect, who appointed a retail design company as building contractor.

The design company reworked the interior, which involved lowering ceilings, new lighting, floorings and fittings, while the architect provided project management and building inspection support throughout the build and also agreed stage payments. A finance company specialising in
optical practices managed the funding and the VAT implications.

To complete the re-fit, Ruth invested in a computerised test chart, extended the practice management system to include clinical records and installed a new non-contact tonometer. The practice's security system was extended to include panic buttons for reception and the consulting room.

Although the whole process took two months, the practice only had to suspend eye examinations for a couple of weeks.

Ruth's husband Colin, who works as business support manager for the family firm, explains that a complete re-fit was the only option for the premises, which had a side entrance, an overgrown front garden and restricted disabled access. 'The refit also enabled a consistent theme to be used throughout, replacing old furniture and fittings,' he says.

The response from customers to the new-look practice has been very favourable with a notable increase in walk-in enquiries.

Ruth's other practice is in Castleford, a former mining town currently undergoing redevelopment. Colin says that it was the uncertainty of trading in a single location that prompted the purchase of the Acomb business last year. Once the future of the town centre is resolved, Ruth plans to employ the same contractor to refit the Castleford practice and bring it into line with the new design.