A new poll commissioned by Optical Express has revealed that nationwide one in every two people in the Great Britain (51%) believe that their own job is valued by their employer. However, Londoners were the most likely to say they feel the work they do is appreciated, with 60% saying that they do feel appreciated at work.

This contrasts sharply with the survey’s finding that more than half of London people (59%) believe the job NHS and Emergency Service workers do is not sufficiently appreciated.

When asked who deserved our gratitude the most for their efforts over the last three years, more than half (53%) of London people said nurses. The poll shows just how much gratitude the public have for nurses and other NHS workers and the efforts they make every day to keep us all safe, particularly following the pandemic.

The poll was conducted by YouGov on behalf of Optical Express. The UK’s number one private provider of laser eye surgery, lens replacement surgery and cataract surgery has relaunched its ‘Thanks a Million’ campaign which will provide £1 million worth of free laser eye surgery to NHS and Emergency Service workers, to thank them for their service. Optical Express first launched the extremely successful and well-received campaign in 2017, and has improved the lives of tens of thousands of NHS and Emergency Service workers over the years. Optical Express are proud to have supported hundreds of humanitarian and philanthropic projects for more than 30 years, donating over £33 million and counting to worthwhile causes in the UK and aboard.

Radiographer Samantha Hogben, 35, from South West London, who was given free laser eye surgery as part of the ‘Thanks a Million’ campaign, said: “I am so glad I was selected for ‘Thanks a Million’, my eyesight is now better than 20/20.

“Now I’ve had the surgery, I am able to respond to emergency situations a lot faster as I don’t have to bother with putting my contact lenses in and can head straight to the X-Ray room to deal with the emergency.”

After struggling with glasses and contact lenses for 15 years, NHS doctor and former Miss England Bhasha Mukherjee’s life was changed by laser eye surgery. Following treatment she said “Having laser eye surgery with Optical Express has completely transformed my life. On the hospital wards I feel so much freer without the burden of glasses on my face, getting in the way of my PPE and other equipment. I feel so much safer too, knowing that not wearing contact lenses means there’s less chance I am spreading or catching infections.”

NHS and Emergency Service workers who wish to apply for free treatment can register their interest online [https://www1.opticalexpress.co.uk/thanks-a-million]. If successful, you will be contacted by a member of the Optical Express team with further information.

David Moulsdale, Chairman and CEO of Optical Express, said, “Optical Express is excited to relaunch our ‘Thanks a Million’ campaign, which will allow us to improve the lives of so many more hardworking people. We first launched the campaign because, as this poll shows, it is important to say thank you to those who sadly do not hear it often enough.

“People are rightly proud of our NHS and Emergency Services in this country, and they work tirelessly to keep us safe. We are delighted that we can contribute to giving them the thanks that they deserve.”