People experiencing homelessness in Poole have received free eye and hearing care at a special out-of-hours clinic hosted by Specsavers.
The locally owned store on Kingland Crescent worked with the charity Routes to Roots to provide free eye tests, hearing checks, OCT scans, glasses and ear wax removal in a relaxed, quiet environment after business hours.
The initiative forms part of Specsavers’ national homelessness programme, aimed at improving access to essential health services for those facing financial or social barriers to care.
Emma Gibbs, retail director, and Sinan Khan, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Poole, said they were proud to host the third eye care and first hearing clinic for people experiencing homelessness. “Our long-term aim is to ensure everyone can access free, appropriate care which helps improve quality of life,” they said.
Routes to Roots representative Ben Sargent said the support made a real difference. He explained that holding clinics out of hours and with charity staff present “reduces anxiety and increases the chance of a positive experience.”
Specsavers continues to work with organisations including Crisis, Vision Care and the Big Issue to help remove healthcare barriers nationwide. The company is also calling for changes to government policy to make free eye and ear care available for all people affected by homelessness.
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