Sound business practice

Specsavers in Bedford was the second of the multiple’s UK stores to introduce an audiology department some 12 years ago. The Hearing Centre was launched as a joint venture partnership with the optical side of the business in response to Bedfordshire’s high demographic of older people. Around 90 per cent of the practice’s patients today have age-related hearing loss.

Aekta Patel, joint venture partner at the Bedford Hearing Centre, says Specsavers launched its audiology service to break down the barriers and taboos associated with hearing aids and to make services more convenient, affordable and accessible for patients.

‘It is Specsavers’ culture to break down barriers and just as sight tests used to be carried out in hospitals around 30 years ago, we have brought hearing services from hospitals to the high street. It seemed natural to have another part of your health check done in store and patients feel more relaxed in a retail environment compared to hospitals,’ she says.