To claim back my eye test cost from the NHS?

[spekky]

I work for the NHS in a computer based role. I’ve been noticing more headaches when using my computer (I think my prescription has gone out of date to be honest), so I’ve booked an eye test on my day off this week.

My partner is horrified that I’d think to claim the cost back from them, because it’s NHS money and I can afford the eye test.

I think it’s fair enough to claim it back because I’m sure it’s the extended computer work (literally 7.5 hours a day) that’s caused some headaches and so I feel like they should be paying for it.

There is specific criteria to be able to claim for this and the optician has to sign the claim back form to say you meet those, so if you can claim back it's because it's appropriate

Sorry, this is as an employee, not as an NHS funded eye test.

Don't you get a free eye test every two years anyway?

No? You have to pay for an eye test, but as I use computers all day I’m entitled to claim it back from my employer

Your workplace should be paying for it shouldn't they? So if your employer is the NHS, then yes.

If you can afford it, then you can just pay for it. Up to you though.

The reimbursement for an eye test if you work in the NHS using computers for much of the time, is part of your T&Cs. It's budgeted for and is not coming out of clinical costs. Many public sector employers and universities offer this. It protects the employer from litigation.

Why do you take a salary, accrue pension etc if it is NHS money? Isn't it the same thing?

Where do you live? I don't pay for eye tests.

England, you have to pay for eye tests here.

He seems convinced that it’s a waste as I can afford the test without claiming it back

My nhs trust will reimburse for eye tests and up to £50 off glasses.. check your trust benefits on the staff website.

Ours is the same, but the glasses have to be for just computer use

Yes I appreciate that. I had one recently as an NHS employee and was given a form which optician had to complete - I think need for test has to be linked to work, rather than being something you would have anyway. We get total of £50 back to cover both test and glasses - which is a bit rubbish seeing as my local optician charges £58 just for an eye test!

If you work with screens a lot, then yes, your employer should pay for regular eye tests (Display Screen Equipment regs 1992.) If you then need glasses as a result of your screen use, then they should cover the costs (there may be some limits, don't know, never claimed.) If you need glasses because of crap genetics or getting older, they don't need to contribute.

How you claim will depend on your employer. My current one will issue vouchers in advance only for one nationwide optician chain, because we supply their IT. Previous one, you booked any optician you liked, got a receipt, put it through expenses under "annual eye test" (even if you did it two yearly.)

So you need to check how your employer organizes it.

Check with your employer. DSE users (Display Screen Equipment) are entitled to a free eye test every 2 years. Your HR dept will advise whether this can be at an optician of your choice and claimed back, or if you have to contact them in advance so they can provide you with a voucher to take to a specific optician.

DH is wrong about not claiming because you work for NHS - this is a rule to protect your health, you shouldn't be excluded just because you work for NHS. I assume he wouldn't have an issue if you worked for a private sector company.

His issue is that it’s public money.

It's much less of a cost than having to hire someone new because a staff member resigns because of their sight problems.

You should have asked before you went.

If you work on computers you're entitled to a free eye test paid for by your employer.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/eye-tests.htm

They're an employer with legal responsibility

I totally get this. I’ve claimed once but since being a band 7, it feels uncomfortable. I’m entitled to it but it feels wrong. I feel guilty claiming mileage but I do that because they moved my work place and it’s an hour drive rather than 10 minutes to my original office. It is a weird thing that’s different to working anywhere else.

Your DH is wrong though, DSE eye testing is a health and safety issue that applies to your employers in the same way it would apply to any employers, whether public or private sector. You should not be disadvantaged just because you work for a public sector employer.
edited for typo

There are thousands of things that public money is wasted spent on.

Eye tests for screen users is absolutely worthy of it.

Absolutely claim for it. Your horrified partner can go reimburse the NHS the £30 or whatever it costs so that they can buy a single box of latex gloves with it (seriously, he needs to check out the money wastage in NHS procurement), somehow, if he's that much of a virtue signaller.

It is a legal obligation for employers to pay for sight tests for VDU users.
If you use a screen for more than an hour at a time on multiple days of the week, you are a VDU user.

Whether that's done via expenses or vouchers for a specific opticians depends on the employer.

So no, you are NOT being unreasonable, it's your legal right as an employee.