OutsideClinic invests in StaySafe app to enhance safety for lone working colleagues

OutsideClinic, the UK's largest and fastest-growing home eye and hearing care provider, has invested in the StaySafe mobile app and cloud-based monitoring service to enhance safety for optometrists, dispensing opticians, audiologists and trainers who work alone in patients' homes. This investment comes as OutsideClinic expands its operations, including the recent acquisition of leading eye and hearing care companies, Visioncall, bloom hearing specialists™ and Care Opticians and a recent headquarters relocation.

The StaySafe app brings the company in line with other lone-working companies and provides an extra layer of protection for colleagues across the UK who visit patients in their homes. It uses GPS tracking technology to monitor the location of lone workers and sends alerts to the OutsideClinic control centre if a worker fails to check in on time. The app also includes a panic button feature that allows workers to send an alert if they feel threatened or in danger. The control centre can then respond to ensure the worker's safety.

A recent survey conducted by the General Optical Council (GOC) has found that over half of optometrists in the UK are female, and as the demand for home-based healthcare services continues to rise, safety measures for lone workers in the sector have become increasingly important. Recognising this need, OutsideClinic is committed to implementing measures to ensure the safety and security of its colleagues, particularly those working alone. The company is dedicated to promoting a safe and supportive working environment for healthcare professionals.

Nick Wingate, OutsideClinic's Director of Professional Services said: "We take the safety of our colleagues very seriously, and the StaySafe app is a measure that we have put in place to ensure they are protected while working alone. We are proud to offer this app to our workforce, providing them with an extra layer of protection and peace of mind while delivering life-changing eye and hearing services across the UK."

The StaySafe app is now available to all OutsideClinic optometrists, dispensing opticians, audiologists and trainers who work alone. The app, which is free to download, has been confirmed as the easiest to use in the industry and has been specifically designed to fit effortlessly into a worker's routine. With its low signal mode, StaySafe offers the broadest geographical coverage possible, ensuring that lone workers can always remain connected.

The app also includes in-app training and has been developed to be user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for healthcare professionals to stay safe while working in the field. By making the StaySafe app available to its employees, OutsideClinic is demonstrating its commitment to promoting a safe and supportive working environment for all.

OutsideClinic is committed to becoming the best place to work in optics and audiology while providing access to clinically excellent optometry and audiology services in the comfort of people's homes. With a new headquarters that staff moved into in the Spring, a new lightweight optometry kit bag and the recent rebrand, OutsideClinic continues to showcase itself as a leading provider of eye and hearing care and continues to recruit both optometrists and audiologists across the UK as they grow. The company have also launched a Joint Venture Partnership Model to allow optometrists to build and run a fully supported domiciliary practice.

While 460,000 eye tests were conducted in a domiciliary environment in 2020, making it the fastest-growing area of optometry, research indicates that 2.7m people in the UK would benefit from such care – with OutsideClinic on a mission to address this gap and ensure that everyone has access to the eye and hearing care they deserve. OutsideClinic had a successful 2022 that saw its growing team of optometrists and audiologists deliver more than 200,000 clinics in various domiciliary environments, and they aim to build on that successful year by helping more customers than ever in 2023.

For more information on the roles available at OutsideClinic, visit careers.outsideclinic.co.uk/jobs.

For more information about StaySafe App visit: www.staysafeapp.com. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

About OutsideClinic

As the UK's largest and fastest-growing provider of domiciliary eye and hearing care, OutsideClinic is on a mission to ensure that everyone who needs it has access to clinically excellent optometry and audiology services in the comfort of their own home.

Established over 35 years ago, with a growing team of industry-leading clinicians based across the UK, OutsideClinic is already delivering over 200,000 clinics in people's homes every year, with the company on track to achieve a record turnover this financial year.

Working with its supportive owners, Optimism Health Group, OutsideClinic aims to become the best place to work in optics and audiology. With access to the very latest mobile technology, support from an award-winning head office team and a focus on employee wellbeing, the organisation provides its people with a chance to thrive while making a real difference to the lives of its patients.