NHS repairs for kids

[sarahr]

Just wondering how you all deal with repeated loss and breakage from an individual child over a short space of time. Where does the NHS draw the line? I expect the answer is that each health authority has it's own idea but it is infuriating when a laughing Mum and child appear and find the damage or repeated loss, amusing! You know the sort of thing "Oh that's kids for you". Well it's not most kids! Obviously this is really tough because we want all children to have whatever they need, when they need it, regardless of the financial capabilities of the parents.That's great.I truly believe that children do have accidents and repairs are neccessary, and should be undertaken at no or little cost, as and when, but averaging 10-12 major repairs (new frames and/or lenses) in every 12 month period, I think is too much.
When there is no responsibility being taken, and no apparent understanding of the costs involved to the NHS, I feel a letter of warning (warning of what?I don't know) could be sent to the family by the FHSA bringing their attention to how many repairs had been undertaken.

While I'm having a rant, what happens when a lost pair of specs are replaced, only for the original 'lost' pair to be brought in for repair at a later date?

Just call me misery!:angry:

[John R]

sarahr said:
While I'm having a rant, what happens when a lost pair of specs are replaced, only for the original 'lost' pair to be brought in for repair at a later date?

Just call me misery!:angry:

10 to 12 a year that pushing it a bit for sure, what do they do mountain bike riding on the weekends or some such risky sport...
But not all kids are like that, I'd put the blame more on the parents who see it as a way of getting some of their hard earned
:finger: taxes back. Maybe repairs should be free but replacements have to be part paid for. I guess you could always ask them to go else where to be supplied with their spexs.
A letter reminding parents of their responsibilty and pointing out the cost involved could be a good idea, to be honest i'm suprised some of the LHA's dont do this already in a effort to keep their costs down or just plain limit the number of repairs/new glasses to each child.

[Maria]

Our local authority is really tolerant of it, even though we've had situations where the child has been back the very next day, and we've ended up submitting the yellow and pink in the same batch.

Whenever they come in with a frame from two vouchers ago, though, I tell them that the NHS will only repair or replace the most recently issued pair. These are invariably 'lost', though.