Private-Eye (!) are reporting that Specsavers have now got the nationwide DVLA contract to test eyes of drivers with conditions that lead to degenerative eye problems e.g. diabetes - apparently, this was previously carried out (For the last 10 years)  by individual practices at a cost of £42 per test.

 

It was noted that Spec Savers don't have a branch in every UK town and that the customer charge for the new service has not been released into the public domain.

 

Apparently, a group of independent opticians also bid for the contract but lost out on price to SS, saving DVLA £2m a year.

 

PE speculated that one reason SS might be able to quote a lower price because they are another of these off-shore registered status (Guernsey)  organisations and that this allows them to make some profits tax-free.

 

Its reported that SS also got the contract to test the eyes of staff at DWP and are now a preferred supplier to NHS.

 

Wonder how that squares with EU rules on procurement  and unfair competition, monopoly and propriety as they are now ?

 

 

Nick

Edited 17 June, 201411 yr by Clunkclick

Are you diabetic, Nick?

Diabetics get regular screening for retinopathy by the NHS "in-house", not at an independent opticians or Specsavers.

Diabetics can already get a free eye tests, inc digital retinal photography at specsavers.

the 'normal' punter, if over 40, would get the retinal photo included anyway.

What's the current going rate for an eye test for joe public?  £28-£40 at today's prices.

So either LOCSU has been instrumental in maintaining nice little price fixing scam for their members for the last decade and don't like that another group has finally been able to match/undercut them and break their "monopoly."

As I understand it, LOCSU seems to function as a quango anyway - it sits between the official optometry bodies and the opticians......"to improve services in the region"..........aka "to ensure we can justify our own existence"..probably by charging a "fee" to both sides.

 

Private eye, should always be read with modest teaspoon of salt as, while they often document absurdities and excess of   (nomimally) elected democracies, there's also a good measure of swivel eyed socialism romping through the articles too.

I guess this is south of the border. 2yr eye test is free up here.

 

I thought that SS were franchises, quality varies widely anyway.

Edited 18 June, 201411 yr by Aspman

I've just paid £39 plus £10 for a retinal photograph at my regular optician although I was told afterwards that it's half price between 9am and 10am. Bugger

Boots / D&A currently £10 with voucher

http://www.boots.com/en/Opticians/Opticians-offers/GBP10-eye-check/

Interesting.

 

I presume that the tests requested by DVLA are prompted by a request from the Police or Prosecutor (Following an accident)  or following DVLA notification by a driver/His insurance company/ GP, and represent a full assessment of capability to drive for statutory licensing purposes - not individual welfare. Hence, NHS won't be involved and walk-in tests won't do .Consequently, I would expect that they will involve a lot more than just a walk-in retinal photo and also include a practical test of a persons effective cone of vision and peripheral vision. - or is retinal photo now considered conclusive in its own right ? Also the opticians will have to formally report back to DVLA.

 

Don't doubt that traditional opticians have been a bit closed shop/collusive in the past, but should pricing be allowed to be distorted by fiscal matters in order to counter this situation ? I'm pretty sure that the procurement rules wouldn't have allowed those running the tender to adjust other bidders prices to counter for SS's unfair advantage. So you are left with an unfair competition in an attempt to satisfy a statutory requirement.

 

Don't think the DVLA would let a "Draw-down" contract like this unless the numbers were substantial because this type of contract is usually constructed as two elements - a fixed fee so that the authority (DVLA) can access the service at any time (which can be nominal or near nominal and sometimes substantial !), plus  a sum per consultation, which may vary  in total according to the  items selected per consultation from the contract menu of services. Nice that they should have the potential to get automatic tax relief on the fixed-fee (Where, in-effect no work is done) as well as the variable charge.

 

Nick

Edited 20 June, 201411 yr by Clunkclick