Communications & Guidance for LOCs/ROCs

EMail Forums for Local, Regional  and Area Optometric Committees

The AOP  hosts two email discussion forums: one for those interested in communicating with LOC/AOC/ROC colleagues and one  for  those interested and/or involved  in diabetic screening. The forums give practitioners the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences and to discuss the issues they face in their dealings with PCTs, Health Boards  and other primary care organisations.

Anyone wanting to join the forums should email [email protected]

LOCSU Election Leaflet see attached pdf

Information Leaflets

The LOCSU has produced a number of information leaflets for LOCs/ROCs on the following subjects and which are available in pdf format to the right of this page:

  • commissioning
  • cinical governance
  • model letters for clinical governance
  • running a successful LOC/ROC
  • primary care toolkit
  • primary care Wales
  • LOC Model Constitution
  • Epidemiological tool
  • how to lobby
  • lobbying brief
  • countdown to LOC/ROC AGM
  • writing a business case for  LOCs (word document)
  • LOC budget spreadsheet
  • Guides to open practice sessions for optometrists and for LOC Chairmen; these will help you raise the profile of healthcare issues and the role local optical practices with politicians, local eye health stakeholders and the media


Also on this page, if you scroll down, is advice on the following topics:

  • Lobbying
  • Swine Flu & Infection Control
  • Advice for professional and practice staff working alone
  • National Patient Safety Agency and NHS numbers
  • Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults


Lobbying Brief and Manifesto for LOCs

The UK Vision Strategy has brought together blind and partially sighted people, users of eye care services, eye health and social care professionals and statutory and voluntary organisations. This coalition has produced a unified framework for action on all issues relating to vision, with the aim of lobbying each Member of Parliament and  Parliamentary candidates to improve eye care services within the community and secondary care. If you would like  a copy of the lobbying brief please click  here  


Flu Pandemic  Advice and Infection Control

Please click here for the College of Optometrists latest advice on  the flu pandemic,   which includes a model patient information leaflet. You can also access advice on infection control, disposal of waste etc.   To view the joint advice issued by the AOP, ABDO and FODO, please click here.


Advice for Professional and Practice Staff Working Alone

Lone working is a risk that appplies to professionals and other staff who work alone in care homes or patients' own homes or when working alone in fixed premises.   The professional and representative bodies have produced joint advice to help those who work alone in such situations. Please click here to access the advice.


National Patient Safety Agency and NHS Numbers

Please click here    to view the joint advice issued by ABDO, AOP and FODO on the safer practice notice issued by the NPSA on NHS numbers. This notice sates that, from 18th September 2009, all primary and secondary providers should use the patient's NHS number. However, this advice is medically driven and primarily concerns general practice and the secondary sector. it cannot and does not apply to community optometric practices.


Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

In LOCSU's  Hot Brief (June), Issue 8, we issued advice on this subject which, whilst fully recognising and supporting the aims of identification, safe support for victims and prevention of all child, adult or domestic abuse, urged extreme caution in moving forward at local level pending further discussions between the optical negotiating and professional bodies and the NHS about what was safe and appropriate action to be taken in optical practices.  

The optical bodies have not yet concluded that work but their  advice remains that LOCs should inform their PCTs that they are awaiting more detailed guidance about what is appropriate and safe for patients in optics, which they hope will be agreed with NHS Primary Care Commissioning.

PCTs should already be providing contractors with such details as the name/contact for the lead doctor and nurse for child protection and for concerns about vulnerable adults in the area; also the contact details for the Caldicott guardian, who can offer advice on confidentiality issues and the sharing of information.   Practices should keep this information handy and make sure all staff are aware of it.   The major responsibility here is with the PCT and the Local Children's Safeguarding Board to communicate the right information and the contractor simply needs to know what to look for and where to go.

It may also be worth the LOCs drawing the PCTs' attention to previous, joint advice from the optical bodies  on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Please click here to view.

Also worth noting is advice issued by  the Bradford District Adult Protection Committee. Please click here to view.

In summary and to ensure compliance:

If contractors or practitioners have any suspicions of abuse, they should

  • contact their local PCT, Local Child Protection Team or representative body for advice
  • keep a written record of their suspicions, a note of the date, time and content of contact with and advice from the authorities (including staff names) and action taken on the basis of that advice.


The aim is to keep everyone safe from abuse whilst not putting individual patients at risk.