High street multiple Specsavers has made a ‘major investment’ in independent ophthalmology provider Newmedica in an effort to improve eye care services in the community.
Specsavers said the companies both shared a passion for transforming eye health but that it was too early to expand on exactly how the partnership would develop in the future.
‘With hospital eye departments under pressure due to an ageing population and an increase in treatable eye conditions, we will be exploring with Newmedica ways in which we can provide NHS ophthalmology services in the community,’ said CEO and co-founder of Specsavers, Doug Perkins.
‘We envisage that the services would be led by ophthalmologists, and supported by optometrists in our stores.’
Newmedica delivers eye care services in England from 25 community and GP sites, as well as NHS and private hospitals and mobile clinics. It provides outpatient care and surgery, adult, paediatric and neonatal ophthalmology.
Darshak Shah, co-founder and director of Newmedica, said: ‘This represents a significant milestone and a hugely positive development for Newmedica, enabling us to develop the business for a long term future in support of our mission of making eye care better.’