Independents must act to retain patients.

The article reports that optometry equipment provider Iris Visioncare is urging independent practices to take benefit of patient membership programme (PMP) to safeguard their businesses against stiff competition. It presents the views of Noakes, Habermehl and Kerr (NHK) principal Peter Noakes and Iris Visioncare business development director Philip Everett-Lyons in this regard. Noakes said a PMP was a way of valuing professional time, improving retention and offering patient benefits.