As the final resting place of St Cuthbert and subsequent centre of pilgrimage since the 11th century, Durham is a town of great history. Its Norman cathedral and castle were designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986, and archaeological evidence suggests a history of settlement in the area since roughly 2000 BC. Although the city has a relatively small population, Durham attracts a large number of tourists and students to its cobbled streets.
‘Being Northern, the patients are friendly,’ says retail director of the Specsavers city centre store Andy Craig. ‘There’s a large percentage of people linked to the prestigious university, college of schools and comprehensives too. So with students, academics and senior citizens, we see a great mix of young and old people.’ Currently, the Durham store employs two apprentices from Specsavers’ central enhanced optical services (EOS) scheme, a prime example of the multiple’s commitment to furthering EOS nationwide.
Although Specsavers is keen to expand on services, recruitment proves to be an issue within the city. Craig says: ‘It is a challenge for the whole north-east region, the demand for optometrists is high so like a lot of other opticians we use locums at busy times.’
Recruitment problems do not prevent optical events from being held in Durham, however. It is set to be the next location for Specsavers north-east regional edition of the Professional Advancement Conference which provides optometrists, CLOs and DOs in the north-east with CET opportunities.
Like many optical practices based in a city centre, the store’s location can cause problems. ‘As it is an old and historic city, there is a lot of necessary redevelopment. The shopping centre we are next to has been razed to the ground and all sorts of shops have building works, making parking difficult. It is confusing for people, and we are having to say “we are still open”.’
Based just outside the city centre sits Costspsex Opticians, which boasts 1,000 frames. Practice manager Darren Fish believes this variety helps the business succeed. He says: ‘You need to let customers decide what they want and only give them a hand if they want it. We get lots of designer brands in, like Superdry and Radley, but often it’s about getting the mixture of brands for our customers.’
When it comes to fashion and trends, the practice can no longer predict which frames will appeal to certain age groups. Fish says: ‘You now get younger and older people going for the same frames, there’s no longer any rules.’
With lots of redevelopment in the city the practice now anticipates a demographic change. ‘Currently we get a lot of older patients as the students tend to stay around the city centre. But there’s student accommodation being built nearby, so we’re expecting a change once it opens,’ he adds.
Who’s in town?
Total: 12
Independents: 9
Multiples: 3
Average cost
Prices for an eye examination range from £10 to £30. The average cost is £23.
Population
Durham city population: 50,000. County Durham population: 517, 800 (ONS 2014)
Community eye care
According to the Locsu Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Durham Local Optical Committee has secured a contract from NHS Durham North CCG in cataract referral, glaucoma repeat readings and a minor eye conditions service.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Durham is £180,654 (Rightmove, 2016) compared with an average of £216,750 for England and Wales (Land Registry, 2016).
- NHS expenditure on vision problems in County Durham per person is £94, compared with the UK average of £89 (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool 2015).
- 3,510 patients live in County Durham with early stage wet AMD and 1,710 with dry AMD (RNIB).
- There are about 5,510 people living in County Durham who have cataract, 4,970 people with glaucoma and 34,310 with diabetes. Some 960 patients have diabetic retinopathy (RNIB).
Fun facts
Durham is home to the largest socialist trade union event in the world, the Durham Miner’s Gala, which started in 1871.
It was the first city in the UK to introduce a congestion charge.
On the northern door of the cathedral sat a knocker, pictured. If a fugitive grasped it they were granted sanctuary for 37 days.
Charles Dickens stayed in Barnard Castle in County Durham when collecting material for his novel Nicholas Nickleby.
Causeway Arch in County Durham is the world’s oldest railway bridge, built in 1725.
Durham was the birthplace of modern English mustard when Mrs Clements ground mustard seeds like flour.