Bradford and Airedale Local Optical Committee
Bradford Local Optical Commitee (LOC) represents the interests of Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and Contractors of Ophthalmic services in the Bradford and Airedale area. Our aim is to raise the profile of Optometry and its associated professions with GP’s, Ophthalmologists and Airedale General Hospital and Bradford teaching Hospitals. It also tries to maintain links with Neighbouring LOC’s and other local professional commitees such as LMC (medical). LDC (dental) and LPC (pharmacy).
We hope to have most information you may need when working, easily available from this web site. Please contact us if you want further information or would like a link adding to a site you feel will be of benefit to the local Optometry community.
We welcome input and hope to develop this site into your primary reference source.
Bradford LOC represents all Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians working in the Bradford, Airedale, Craven and Wharfedale Clinical Commissioning Groups.
We meet about 6 times per year – usually at the University of Bradford Eye Clinic. The LOC contains members from independent optometry, the multiple, franchise and joint-venture sectors, the Hospital Eye Service, the optometry course at Bradford University and the dispensing profession. Our local Optometric Advisor also regularly attends LOC meetings.
We give a warm welcome to any local colleagues who want to join us – as you know there is much happening in Optometry, and we want one of our strengths to be that our LOC reflects all sections of our profession.
Committee Members Local Optical Committee
Bradford LOC has representatives from all sectors of the profession – independents; employees; locums; franchisees; joint venture practices; the hospital department and the university optometry department.
About 10 – 12 of us meet regularly for LOC meetings, and one of our strengths is the variety of optical backgrounds we come from, and the range of skills we have. We meet about 5 times a year. You are welcome to join us.
TREASURER
Kathryn Webber
Minutes Secretary
Victoria Gore
Cpd Events
sarah farrar
alison ALDERSON
amena MUJTABA
kathyrn webber
Omar
REFERRAL PATHWAYS
Jenny capozio
stewart mitchell
charlotte hazel
GP Liaison
Stewart Mitchell
Communication
jagdeep Kainth
Mohammed hafejee
victoria gore
Secondary Care
Charlotte Hazel
Education
Cheryl Swindells (ABDO)
Committee Members
Jenny Capozio
Chris Davey
Mike Dearlove
Sarah Farrar
Victoria Gore
Mohammed Hafejee
David Howarth
Ravi Naru
Harpreet Reehal
jagdeep kainth
kathryn webber
Omar PANDOR
amena MUJTABA
alison ALDERSON
arifah KHADAROO
IAN THWAITES
Webmaster
Mohammed Hafejee
Joining the LOC Help make a difference to eyecare locally...
The LOC is responsible for looking after the interests of all GOS contractors (practices) and performers (optoms) in Bradford and Airedale. There is national variation in what different LOCs do…. but what we do is:
- Consult with NHS / ICBs / DH / Hospitals when local Optical input is requested
- Negotiate with NHS / ICBs/ DH / Hospitals to set up community services
- Provide information to Practitioners and Practices
- Run local CPD events
- Sit on local NHS ‘fit to practice’ panels and give advice to Practitioners
- Campaign on eyecare matters at a local level
The whole committee meets about 6 times a year around the Bradford area. Members are assigned to subcommittees to look after the above duties, and to push them forward. Depending on what subcommittee you’re interested in, you will be expected to attend meetings and perhaps do a few hours work, per month, in between. You don’t need to attend every meeting, but if you miss 3 in a row you have to be removed according to the constitution. Your time for meetings and other duties is paid for. We are funded by taking ~0.4% of every GOS test in the area.
Any performer/contractor can attend meetings; they are open meetings, just not very interesting to the average Optom. If you’re not sure; People interested in joining often come attend meetings as an observer first before getting involved formally.
If you want to join, or want to attend meetings as an observer, let me know and I’ll give you the dates. Joining the LOC can only be done once per year at the AGM, but as I’ve said before, you can still attend meetings even if you’re not formally part of the committee.
Chris Davey • Secretary
LOCSU What is LOCSU?
LOCSU are the Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU).
They are a key link between national professional optic bodies such as the Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), the Association of Optometrists (AOP) or the Federation of Ophthalmic (and Dispensing) Opticians (FODO) and the local optician or optometrist working to improve eye services in their region.
What does LOCSU do?
- Use their clinical expertise to develop community / enhanced service pathways for particular eye health problems such as Glaucoma and Cataracts.These accredited clinical pathways give local optical committees in England the tools which can be used in their negotiations with their local health commissioners.
- LOCSU run regional training events to make sure that LOC members are informed and equipped to negotiate with their local health commissioners in England.
- LOCSU ensure LOCs get the latest information about tenders for future services, changes to the NHS and the way services will be planned in the future through bulletins, newsletters and e-alerts.
- LOCSU work with the Department of Health and leading commissioner forums to raise awareness of the expertise of LOCs and to connect commissioners with their Local Optical Committee to start working together.