The LOCSU Podcast Thu, 05 Mar 2026 01:43:36 -0500 https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com en-gb © 2026 The LOCSU Podcast yes d5a40d5a-6433-5139-854f-ef9239ac3830 LOCSU episodic false LOCSU is the Local Optical Committee Support Unit, supporting Local Optical Committees (LOCs) in England across a range of activities relating to primary eye care. Our work includes policy work and lobbying, pathway development, commissioning support, governance and compliance support, communication and training.We drive innovative thinking about present and future opportunities and challenges within the primary eye care sector, to meet the changing needs of LOCs. Our role as an eye health innovator sees us work in collaboration with a wide range of partners across the optical and wider health sectors to enhance and promote the role of LOCs and primary eye care among health decision makers. To find out more about LOCs and LOCSU visit our website www.locsu.co.uk

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) LOCSU https://storage.buzzsprout.com/cobbx5050w0ma1gyuyqcfllqie06?.jpg The LOCSU Podcast Enhancing access to minor and urgent care across England through a new standard specification Enhancing access to minor and urgent care across England through a new standard specification In this podcast, LOCSU Clinical Director Zoe Richmond, is joined by Wojciech Karwatowski, Chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), to discuss the development of an exciting new standard specification for minor and urgent eye care. 

Together they explore the importance of building upon the well-established pockets of excellence in England to help commissioners get the best outcomes for patients through maximising delivery of care on high street.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> In this podcast, LOCSU Clinical Director Zoe Richmond, is joined by Wojciech Karwatowski, Chair of the Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning (CCEHC), to discuss the development of an exciting new standard specification for minor and urgent eye care. 

Together they explore the importance of building upon the well-established pockets of excellence in England to help commissioners get the best outcomes for patients through maximising delivery of care on high street.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-14607491 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000 1212 eyecare, eyehealth, LOCSU, LOCs, Clinical Council for Eye Health Commissioning, CCEHC, GOC, ABDO, Standard specification for minor and urgent eye care, primary eyecare, NHSE full false 'Hairy Biker' Dave Myers on the importance of sight tests 'Hairy Biker' Dave Myers on the importance of sight tests Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness but it doesn't have to be. 

In this podcast LOCSU CEO Janice Foster and Clinical Director Zoe Richmond speak to one half of 'The Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers about the importance of regular sight tests. 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness but it doesn't have to be. 

In this podcast LOCSU CEO Janice Foster and Clinical Director Zoe Richmond speak to one half of 'The Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers about the importance of regular sight tests. 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-13966108 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0000 1049 Eyecare, LOCSU, Eye health, primary care, glaucoma, optometry, optometrists, opticians, LOCs, sight tests, Dave Myers, hairy bikers, full false New Board Members New Board Members In this podcast LOCSU Chair Dr Joy Tweed introduces us to the new clinical Board Directors. 

Jagdeep Singh; Roma Malik; Millie Fellows; and Sofia Fazal  joined after a recruitment campaign held earlier this year. 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> In this podcast LOCSU Chair Dr Joy Tweed introduces us to the new clinical Board Directors. 

Jagdeep Singh; Roma Malik; Millie Fellows; and Sofia Fazal  joined after a recruitment campaign held earlier this year. 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-13853363 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 21:00:00 +0100 1426 Eyecare, LOCSU, Eye health, primary care, board members, optometry, optometrists, opticians, LOCs, full false Low Vision Low Vision In this LOCSU podcast we focus on Low Vision and the role of primary eyecare in meeting patient need locally and collaboratively, working within multidisciplinary teams.

Our Clinical Director Zoe Richmond is joined by two portfolio career Optometrists, experts in this field, Dr Louise Gow and Ms Rukaiya Anwar.

 Dr Louise Gow is clinical lead for eye health, Optometry and Low vision for RNIB and works as a specialist optometrist at Seeability special schools eye care service and St Thomas low vision service. Louise has a special interest in autism and eye care.

 Ms Rukaiya Anwar is an Optometric Advisor and Training Lead specialising in low vision for Health Education & Improvement Wales. She also works as a clinical Lead for Primary Eyecare Services and led the expert LOCSU clinical advisory group to develop the LOCSU Low Vision resources.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> In this LOCSU podcast we focus on Low Vision and the role of primary eyecare in meeting patient need locally and collaboratively, working within multidisciplinary teams.

Our Clinical Director Zoe Richmond is joined by two portfolio career Optometrists, experts in this field, Dr Louise Gow and Ms Rukaiya Anwar.

 Dr Louise Gow is clinical lead for eye health, Optometry and Low vision for RNIB and works as a specialist optometrist at Seeability special schools eye care service and St Thomas low vision service. Louise has a special interest in autism and eye care.

 Ms Rukaiya Anwar is an Optometric Advisor and Training Lead specialising in low vision for Health Education & Improvement Wales. She also works as a clinical Lead for Primary Eyecare Services and led the expert LOCSU clinical advisory group to develop the LOCSU Low Vision resources.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-13259177 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 19:00:00 +0100 1474 eyecare, low vision, RNIB, Seeability, LOCSU, primary care, optometry, dispensing opticians, autism, primary eyecare, full false LOC Succession Planning LOC Succession Planning We promised you we would catch up with Lyndon Taylor who recently retired from optometry after over four decades and from Cheshire LOC having served the LOC for around 30 years. 

Digital Learning Support Officer  Simone Mason chats to Lyndon and also to fellow optometrist and newer member of Cheshire LOC Fionnuala Kidd with a special episode on succession planning for LOCs. 

Simone unpicks the importance of succession planning, so you'll gain some key suggestions to inform your own LOC's future succession plan.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> We promised you we would catch up with Lyndon Taylor who recently retired from optometry after over four decades and from Cheshire LOC having served the LOC for around 30 years. 

Digital Learning Support Officer  Simone Mason chats to Lyndon and also to fellow optometrist and newer member of Cheshire LOC Fionnuala Kidd with a special episode on succession planning for LOCs. 

Simone unpicks the importance of succession planning, so you'll gain some key suggestions to inform your own LOC's future succession plan.


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-13123204 Wed, 28 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0100 2193 optometry, dispensing opticians, LOCs, LOCSU, primary eye care, primary care, NHS, succession planning full false World Glaucoma Week World Glaucoma Week For World Glaucoma Week, LOCSU's Clinical Director, Zoe Richmond talks about Glaucoma.

 In this brief podcast Zoe urges the public to actively seek a sight test, advising that the routine sight test is the best way to detect glaucoma early. There is no cure for glaucoma, but a diagnosis of glaucoma does not need to mean sight is lost. Within a routine sight test, the optometrist will perform the necessary glaucoma checks.

 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> For World Glaucoma Week, LOCSU's Clinical Director, Zoe Richmond talks about Glaucoma.

 In this brief podcast Zoe urges the public to actively seek a sight test, advising that the routine sight test is the best way to detect glaucoma early. There is no cure for glaucoma, but a diagnosis of glaucoma does not need to mean sight is lost. Within a routine sight test, the optometrist will perform the necessary glaucoma checks.

 


For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://thelocsupodcast.buzzsprout.com/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-12454841 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000 351 glaucoma, glaucomaweek, eyecare, eyetests, primaryeyecare, eyehealth, opticians, full false Women in Optics Women in Optics International Women's Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity

You can't be what you can't see.

This is the mantra of one of our inspirational women leading the way in optics. In this special, female focussed edition of the LOCSU podcast, Janice Foster (LOCSU CEO) is joined by optical professionals Farah Awan, Danielle Ellis and Simone Mason.

Together they explore how the optical sector and LOCs are ahead of the curve when it comes to women in leadership roles.  We learn about the great opportunities LOCs bring, the pleasure working in primary eye care can bring, the importance of striking a work life balance and the great women who have inspired Farah, Danielle and Simone to strive for their success.




For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> International Women's Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity

You can't be what you can't see.

This is the mantra of one of our inspirational women leading the way in optics. In this special, female focussed edition of the LOCSU podcast, Janice Foster (LOCSU CEO) is joined by optical professionals Farah Awan, Danielle Ellis and Simone Mason.

Together they explore how the optical sector and LOCs are ahead of the curve when it comes to women in leadership roles.  We learn about the great opportunities LOCs bring, the pleasure working in primary eye care can bring, the importance of striking a work life balance and the great women who have inspired Farah, Danielle and Simone to strive for their success.




For details of LOCs and LOCSU please go to www.locsu.co.uk


]]> https://www.buzzsprout.com/926230/share LOCSU Buzzsprout-12391097 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 11:00:00 +0000 1822 opticians, dispensingopticians, optometry, eyehealth, LOCSU, NHSE, primarycare, healthcare, Internationalwomensday, full false