Highlands and Islands lose sight of optical service

Specsavers has withdrawn its Highlands and Islands rural service due to the impact of coronavirus.

Six staff members have been made redundant as a result of the closure which means there will no longer be a visiting opticians service at centres in 15 locations across the area.

The Highlands and Islands service visited Lewis, N/S Uist, Barra, Lochcarron, Gairloch, Lochinver, Lairg, Strontian, Mallaig, Portree, Kyleakin, Islay, Campbeltown, Arran and Benbecula when it was operational.

Specsavers admitted the decision to close its Highlands and Islands optical service had been a difficult one but said that the service was no longer sustainable.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has had a big impact across all areas of the Specsavers business and the company has had to make some tough decisions to ensure it continues to be viable,’ said a spokesperson for the company.

Posting on its Facebook page, the Mallaig Community Centre wrote: ‘This was a well-used service and a regular source of income for the Community Centre, and we’d like to thank the team who came regularly. Our thoughts are with those who have lost their jobs.’

Specsavers has said that all impacted customers are being contacted with details of alternative Specsavers options for their eye care needs.