Prescription Sun Glasses

[Andrew MacLean]

Poor nurses? Oh yes, I remember them, they are the people who live in London appartments with a view of the Thames.

Thanks Lynn for the break down.

I share the old fashioned revulsion at the Means Test, but I also recognize that in order to target benefits to those who need them most you have to have some system of assessing need.

Andrew

[John Smith]

Be fair Andrew!

She can't actually see the Thames; that would be far too expensive. What she can see is water that has overflowed from the Thames into a man-made dock.

It's still very pretty (if not more so), but the Thames can be quite snobby - moving water costs a lot more to live by than the stagnant stuff

[Lynn White]

Andrew, it is intrusive and quite a few in need simply won't apply. Yet again, sometimes the categories seem quite arbitary and those just a few pence under the levels where benefits kick in, suffer disproportionately - especially if they need multiple medical prescriptions. It can be a bit of a lottery!

What I also forgot to put in here is that you can get a home visit from an optometrist if you are disabled in such a way as you cannot get out to be tested.

This is only paid for by the NHS if you are also eligible on the financial grounds already stated.

The system has just been changed so that we have to give the PCT 48 hours notice before we test someone (an anti-fraud measure apparantly) and this causes problems because quite often optoms will go on home visits when there are unexpected cancellations (as it takes quite a chunk of time out of the working day). This is proving somewhat unworkable and we are working ot get it changed back to the original system!

[Andrew MacLean]

John

The Clyde flows both ways! As the tide rushes in, the river goes into reverse (the tide flows in two knots faster than the river flows out) This means that when ships need to go up the clyde, they can be carried on the tide, and when they need to leave, they go very quickly out on the ebbing tide.

I had not appreciated that in London you paid more for a view of flowing brown water than for a view of static brown water in a harbour. How do they calculate the variable values?

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

The Thames is tidal all the way up to Teddington weir, somewhere near heathrow (the name was originally "tiding town").
There's about 7 metres difference between low and high water levels at peak Spring tide at London bridge (according tot he tide table I sued to look up on the web when I worked near the boat race start at Putney Bridge and could watch them out of the office window.
And the thames barrage is in use now far more than was envisaged when it was built - global warming, anyone?
London property prices are ridiculous.

Good luck with the sunglasses. Can you get them not only coloured but also polarising?
Rosemary

[Lynn White]

Rosemary...

Polarising is no problem, but the cost is! The voucher only contributes towards the cost, doesn't absorb it all!

Soo you could expect a hefty bill if you chose prescription polarised - though they ARE the best!

[GarethB]

My polarising glasses, the darkest I have are courtesy of work as they are my safety glasses, so scratch and impact resistant.

My glasses that have a light tint are just plane lenses with a tint. Benefit of getting these done through an optom meant I could try several tints and get wghat was best for me which you can not do easily with off the shelf sun glasses. Just took my old frames to the optom and had the plain tinted lenses put in for a small handling fee.

I earn less than my nursing friends (not so sue about monay bags Sweet ) so do not qualify for financial aid

[Louise Pembroke]

It should Sweet..I got you 2 creme egg bars...but then I ate them...sorry!

[Alison Fisher]

I take advantage of the buy one get one free offers opticians often have to get a clear pair of specs and sunglasses (or photochromic ones). In the past I've been able to use a means tested NHS voucher against the cost of the 'deal' without problem.