Blackburn is a former mill town situated in Lancashire, with the production of textiles booming during the industrial revolution being a large part of its history. The town’s optical services are also doing well and are highly regarded from as far away as Scotland.
Haroon Ahmed, principal optometrist at Tyrells & Embery, has worked in Blackburn for five years.
‘It’s a growing town. There are actually quite a few opticians here, so we have a healthy competition with them all,’ says Ahmed. ‘We have an excellent relationship with our very loyal patients, they come from all around Blackburn and the surrounding areas. In fact, one of our patients comes for appointments all the way from Scotland, so we must be doing something right.’
Tyrells & Embery has a variety of enhanced services such as a Minor Eye Conditions Service in conjunction with nearby hospitals, ocular hypertension, glaucoma and low vision schemes and pre- and post-op cataract care. Ahmed says: ‘A lot of what we offer is to help relieve the pressure off hospitals, for example, we can check if a patient has elevated intraocular pressure before then referring them to the hospital. Many patients who are part of the low vision scheme are always grateful for this service and are amazed it’s free of charge.’ A Topcon OCT scanner is also available for patients at the practice.
The practice’s most popular brands are Lindberg, Face á Face, Tom Ford and Silhouette, with the latter two also being well-liked at AJ Spurrett Opticians.
Steven Whittaker is in his second year as AJ Spurrett branch manager and likes working in Blackburn.
‘There are some good shops here and the mall has recently been updated with small places as well as the bigger stores,’ he says. ‘We look at ourselves as a small, independent local practice that is warm and friendly. This practice has been here for over 20 years, we know patients’ names when they walk through the door and have seen kids grow up.’ The practice focuses on patients’ experience and journey during appointments and spends time making sure they are comfortable, as Whittaker thinks this makes a big difference. Tea and coffee is handed out to patients and no appointment is ever rushed.
Enhanced services available at the practice (pictured above) include OCT, retinal imaging, pre- and post-op cataract care and visual field tests. Whittaker says: ‘We measure digitally on an iPad and use Hoya’s VisuReal, so our patients can see what their eyes would be like after treatment. We’re also hoping to start a Mecs scheme and a low vision aid clinic soon.’
Who’s in town
Total: 8
Independents: 5
Multiples: 3
Average costs
The price of an eye exam in Blackburn ranges from £0 to £37.50, at an average cost of £29.50.
Population - see pie chart
Population: 147,049
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, East Lancashire Local Optical Committee has a contract with Blackburn with Darwen CCG in Cataract Referral, Glaucoma Repeat Readings, OHT Monitoring, Minor Eye Conditions Services, Cataract Post-op and Low Vision.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Blackburn is £143,095 (Zoopla), compared with a UK average of £224,144 (Land Registry, 2018).
- Blackburn has an average salary of £20,415, with the UK average being £27,271 (Payscale, 2018).
- In Blackburn, it is estimated that 4,990 people live with early stage age-related macular degeneration (RNIB).
- By 2030, it is predicted that 4,630 people in Blackburn will be living with sight loss – an increase of 27.5% (RNIB).
Fact file
The Spinning Jenny, a multi-spindle spinning frame was invented just outside of Blackburn in 1764 by James Hargreaves that reduced the amount of work needed to produce cloth.
Blackburn was the first town to undertake a mass fingerprinting of people after a three-year-old child was abducted from her cot and murdered in the grounds of Queens Park Hospital in 1948. A match was found for fingerprints left at the scene and the killer was apprehended.
Championship football team Blackburn Rovers are based at Ewood Park stadium. The club started in 1875 and it has won the FA Cup six times. There is also an Olympic-sized ice rink at Blackburn Area, where Blackburn Hawks and Lancashire Raptors play hockey.
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