Foreword from
Janice Foster, CEO

I am pleased to share with you our annual review of LOCSU’s activities from April 2022 – March 2023. It covers a period of rapid change as NHS reforms transition from the preparation to the implementation phase. Within that, the primary eye care sector has enormous opportunities to secure its future as an integral component in patient care pathways. With opportunities there are always challenges, and with new initiatives there is inevitably a great deal to learn.

This annual report reflects that environment as LOCSU worked to provide strategic and tactical support to LOCs, while helping develop talent and skills within the sector. Two key themes emerge throughout the review: confidence and connections.

Nurturing Confidence

It is essential that LOCSU helps LOCs build confidence as we work in partnership to champion primary eye care at this pivotal point in the sector’s history.

LOCSU supports this in a number of ways.

• Engaging effectively with a changing NHS entails a sound understanding of the role LOCs will play, so LOC members can engage confidently with peers horizontally and vertically. We created a short film explaining the reforms and what the optical sector should expect as they unfold
• Optometry First is the flagship approach to delivering more services more effectively in primary eye care. Our review of the early adopter programme looks at how the selected areas tackled the challenge of implementing a new way of working with commissioners, secondary care stakeholders, providers, and LOCs. The lessons learned will benefit future areas rolling out services under the Optometry First model and help LOCs play a key role
• In the Pathways and Case Studies review we look at the new pathways LOCSU has developed in partnership with LOCs and other subject matter experts to deliver patient care. We also share how LOCS across England have implemented services to enable best practice development and confidence for future roll outs

This review also looks back at the Training and Development programme delivered and supported by LOCSU this year. It shows strong evidence of progression as candidates undertaking LOC induction courses graduate to take up places on the LOC leadership course. Many comments from participants reflect an increase in personal confidence gained from participating in the courses, and there is encouraging energy and enthusiasm across the course cohort for using the skills they have learned to take on key roles.

One of the essential advantages of undertaking LOCSU training is the opportunity to meet and share experiences with LOC members around the country. This year, courses introduced WhatsApp groups to support informal communication between course participants, and these have proved a very popular way to maintain connections and support once the course is complete.

Eye Care for Everyone

We are deeply conscious that everyone should have access to quality eye care and that eye care professionals must feel supported and welcome, regardless of background. This year, we commissioned LOCSU’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) report. While there was much to welcome, the report identified areas for improvement including ensuring LOC composition more closely reflects both contractors and performers and the local population. By initiating this discussion of EDI, we hope to establish a positive, transparent foundation on which to build.

Creating Connections

Finally, our National Optical Conference was once again a superb opportunity to meet in person and hear from senior stakeholders in the NHS transformation process. The interactive workshops proved a further opportunity to build connections and share experiences.

It is these connections and the confidence that comes from being well-informed and outstandingly skilled, that will enable primary care optometry to rise to the challenge of transformation. As changes continue, LOCSU is committed to providing the information, support, and strategy needed to help LOCs ensure that primary eye care realises its potential as an essential component of eye care delivery in England.