Member Article

One in four residents revealed to have stroke risk symptoms as Herts optician hosts award-winning clinic

A drop-in clinic offering Hatfield residents a free blood pressure check led to 1 in 4 being advised to seek medical attention due to high readings.

The event - part of an award-winning initiative between Vision Express and its charity partner the Stroke Association - was held to officially launch the new ‘Vision Express at Tesco’ store in Hatfield.

Its aim was to raise awareness of the risks linked to high blood pressure, which is believed to be the cause of more than half of all strokes [1] .

Vision Express Hatfield store manager, Dora Spanos, spoke about her support for the clinic: “As a new member of the Vision Express family following the acquisition of Tesco Opticians, it’s great to see how the Stroke Association works very closely with Vision Express to raise awareness of the importance of getting your blood pressure checked regularly.”

Stephen King, Chair of Trustees of the Stroke Association, said: “A blood pressure check is quick and painless, but it could be a life-saver. Stroke is much more common than many people realise: across the UK; someone has a stroke every five minutes.

“We’re delighted that so many people came along to talk to the drop-in clinic to find out about reducing their risk of having a stroke.”

Residents in nearby town Baldock are also benefiting from a new ‘Vision Express at Tesco’ store that have officially opened.

Stephen was on hand to help cut the ribbon on the Baldock premises, which is home to sophisticated sight screening equipment, to deliver a thorough eye health service to Baldock residents, as figures indicate a worrying outlook for vision in the region:

• Almost 1000 people are suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is 2.5% of the local population. Research also shows over 4,400 people (11.2%) have a heightened risk of developing AMD, due to drusen.

• There are over 4,200 residents (5.7%) living with suspected glaucoma, the silent thief of sight.

Amad Husain, store manager at Vision Express Baldock expressed his delight at the launch saying; “Simply put, we are driven to provide every customer with the best service we can, and we’re passionate about offering the local community an unparalleled eye health service.”

Vision Express’ acquired Tesco Opticians at the end of 2017 and the Baldock and Hatfield optical stores, along with new outlets in Borehamwood and Watford, are among more than 200 ‘Vision Express at Tesco’ opticians launching across the UK in 2018, showcasing a purple-infused rebrand being introduced across the entire Vision Express chain.

The rebrand introduces a refreshed logo and striking purple and green colour decor, featuring bright sofas and wooden flooring, delivering a modern, inviting and vibrant environment to encourage customers to feel at ease.

[1] Royal College of Physicians Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP). National clinical audit annual results portfolio March 2015-April 2016.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vision Express .