MP visits Leighton Buzzard Specsavers to learn about community eye and hearing care

Alex Mayer, Member of Parliament for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, visited a local branch of Specsavers to see firsthand their recent investment in the store and in new technology and to learn more about the role community optical and audiology services play in supporting patients and strengthening access to NHS care closer to home.

During the visit, Ms Mayer was given a tour of the store and met with the team to gain a better understanding of how local clinical experts are delivering high‑quality eye care and hearing services on the high street. She learned about the technology used in store to support accurate assessment of eye health and hearing, including advanced diagnostic equipment that enables earlier intervention and effective ongoing care.

Store directors Bhavash and Ekta Kotecha discussed with Ms Mayer how services provided by Specsavers in Leighton Buzzard such as community audiology and minor eye conditions services are helping to reduce waiting times and relieve pressure on GPs and hospitals by treating patients earlier and closer to home. Delivering care in the community in this way is particularly important as the average wait for a first hospital ophthalmology outpatient appointment in the Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes area is currently 12 weeks. 

Said Ms Mayer: ‘It’s always eye-opening to talk to local optometrists and see first-hand the vital work they do to support eye health in the community. By diagnosing and managing many eye conditions locally, they help patients access care quickly and reduce pressure on hospital eye departments.’

Store director Ekta Kotecha said following the visit: ‘We’ve invested significantly in our store to bring in hospital-grade equipment, because we want our community to have access to the best possible eye care. Technology like our OCT machine allows us to detect and monitor conditions much earlier and examine patients eyes to make sure they are healthy and free from eye diseases or establish that they are at no risk of developing eye diseases.’

‘It was fantastic to welcome Alex Mayer MP to the store and show how community optometry can support the NHS while providing high-quality care right here in Leighton Buzzard.’

As part of the visit, Ms Mayer also showed a keen interest in Specsavers’ contribution to local employment and skills development, including its investment in apprenticeships, structured training pathways and clear routes into clinical careers.

Optometrist and Director Bhavash Kotecha highlighted how Specsavers supports people to progress from entry‑level roles into skilled positions in optics and audiology, helping to build a resilient local healthcare workforce while offering long‑term career opportunities within the community.

Added Mr Kotecha: ‘We were delighted to welcome Alex and introduce her to our team of eye and hearing care experts. We also demonstrated how we as community providers can safely deliver high‑quality care using advanced technology, helping patients access services locally while supporting wider efforts to reduce pressure on GP and hospital services.’

Specsavers has more than 1,000 stores throughout the UK and is the leading provider of NHS primary care optometry services, testing more than 20 million eyes every year. It also delivers more than 40% of NHS community audiology services in England, supporting over 200,000 NHS audiology patients annually. Ear wax removal is another popular service offered by Specsavers, which in some areas is NHS‑funded.

Specsavers Leighton Buzzard is open seven days a week. To book an appointment, visit their website or call the store directly on 01525 219030. For those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness, Specsavers also offers a home visits service covering more than 90% of the UK.