Season’s Greetings From Our Chair

16 December 2022

 

I have now been in post as chair of LOCSU for six months. I’m appreciative of the warm welcome I’ve received and I have gained a deeper understanding of the work of optometrists and dispensing opticians in providing primary eyecare and the role of LOCSU. Successes in the past few months include the NOC in October which I was able to attend and meet many LOC members. At LOCSU we are always looking for ways to increase our support for local LOCs and we have already acted in response to issues raised with us at the NOC.

Looking ahead to 2023, we will be reviewing our strategy and governance. Some of our LOC representatives will have reached the end of their terms of office and we will be looking at the recruitment and selection process for their successors.

There will be an opportunity later to thank the LOC members who have served on the board but at this point I would like to thank Debbie McGill who, as ABDO Head of Policy and Public Affairs, has been on the LOCSU board for many years but has now stepped down to take up a new role. Debbie provided great support to LOCSU in the interim period earlier this year whilst the Chair and CEO posts were vacant. We wish Debbie all the best in the future and welcome Alistair Bridge, who will be CEO of ABDO from January and will be joining the LOCSU board.

As the year draws to a close I want to thank everyone within LOCs and the LOCSU team for all their hard work in 2022. I hope there will be chance to take a good break over the festive season.