National Optical Conference 2022
Monday 10 October - Wednesday 12 October 2022 The Queens Hotel
This year’s NOC is a great opportunity for all LOCs to come together for a combination of workshops, keynote speakers and networking. Big changes are happening with the transition to Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), Optometry First and the National Eye Care Recovery and Transformation Programme (NECRTP). We are delighted to have Louisa Wickham, national clinical director for eyecare to join us to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the optical sector.
Booking information:
LOCSU funds one free delegate place for every LOC it supports and actively encourages LOCs to send more than one delegate.
£390 Residential delegate Includes:
2 nights accommodation • Buffet dinner on Monday • Conference programme • Conference dinner on Tuesday
£229 Non-residential delegate Includes:
Conference daytime programme and Conference dinner on Tuesday
£190 Non-residential delegate:
Conference programme daytime only
Agenda
Event itinerary
Monday 10 October 2022
17.00 – 19.00 Arrival and registration
19.00 – 20.45 Informal
dinner and meet the LOCSU team/Board
Rolling Buffet - Smart casual dress code
Tuesday 11 October 2022: Workforce & Networking
08.00 Registration for day delegates and refreshments
09.15 Welcome, Introduction and
Goals of the NOC
Including LOCSU CEO and Chair introductions
Dr Joy Tweed
09.30 Celebration of past year and
NHS reforms
Janice Foster and Zoe Richmond
10.10 Key
Speaker Professor Anton Emmanuel:
Head of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES)
Q&A
11.00 Refreshment break
11.30 Facilitated discussions –
session 1
1. EDI
2. Effective
LOC
3. Pathway
Redesign
4. Optometry
First
5. Workforce
Development/ Competency and scope of practice
6a. Speaking up Guardian
12.45 – 14:15 Drop
in sessions & networking
Sustainability supported by ABDO
Meet OFNC
13.30 Lunch and networking
14.30 Facilitated discussions –
session 2
1. EDI
2. Effective
LOC
3. Pathway
Redesign
4. Optometry
First
5. Workforce
Development/ Competency and scope of practice
6b.
Structural Leadership and LOC representation within NHS landscape/ new
structures
15.30 Refreshment break
16.00 Dr Rachel Morris (Guest speaker)
17:00 – 17:10 Day
2 roundup and close
Janice Foster
17.30 – 18.00 Central
Optical Fund AGM
19:00 - 23:30 Drinks reception and dinner
Drinks reception sponsored by ABDO, AOP and FODO
Includes
presentation of Leadership Skills for
Optical
Professionals Certificates
Followed by disco and networking - Lounge
Suit dress code
Wednesday 12 October 2022: Transformation
09.15 Welcome to Day 3
09.20 Key Speakers:
Louisa Wickham, National Clinical Director –
Eyecare Transformation and NHS IT & Digital
Catherine Thompson,, NHS West Yorkshire ICB
Panel Discussion/ Q&A with key speakers and will be joined by Zoe Richmond
11.00 Refreshment break
11.20 Regional Discussions
12.30 Closing remarks
Janice Foster
13.00 Conference closes
13.00 Lunch and networking
About LOCSU
LOCSU was established in 2007 to provide support for Local
Optical Committee (LOCs). Our parent organisations are the Association of
Optometrists (AOP), The Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing
Opticians (FODO) and Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO). We
support Local Optical Committees (LOCs) in England across a range of activities
relating to primary eye care including policy work and lobbying, pathway
development, commissioning support, governance and compliance support,
communication and training. LOCSU drives 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.
Key Speakers
Louisa Wickham
Louisa Wickham is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital and was appointed Medical Director in 2020. Louisa developed an interest in clinical leadership and management as a trainee leading her to complete an MSc in Health Services Management at London University. She went on to develop her skills further as a Leadership Fellow for the Health Foundation and as a European Leadership Fellow at INSEAD. She has held a number of leadership roles in the NHS and works with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Royal Society of Medicine to promote clinical leadership for doctors at all stages of their training.
Louisa is an advocate of surgical transformation and innovation. She was appointed Chief Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in 2019 and during this time oversaw the Trust response to the COVID pandemic and initial recovery including COVID surgical pathways and the Moorfields Cataract Drive.
In 2022 Louisa was appointed the first National Clinical Director of Ophthalmology. This exciting new role was developed to provide national clinical leadership for the transformation of eye care recognising the increased burden of disease and the need to develop new pathways to reduce the risk of irreversible visual loss.
Catherine Thompson
Catherine is the Associate Director for Planned Care for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (Integrated Care Board), with a portfolio which covers elective recovery, out-patients transformation, harmonisation of clinical policy for West Yorkshire, and Eye Care Services Transformation. She previously worked at NHS England as the Experience of Care Lead for Acute Services, Older People’s Care, Cancer Services and NHS Chaplaincy services. Prior to that Catherine worked in a national leadership role to improve respiratory services across England and implement the COPD and Asthma Outcomes Strategy. Catherine qualified as a physiotherapist in 1996 and pursued a clinical and academic career in acute respiratory medicine and critical care prior to her management roles.
Catherine is passionate about delivering high quality patient care and the best experience of care for patients, carers and staff. She maintains a strong focus on reducing unwarranted variation, addressing equalities and health inequalities, and improving population health outcomes throughout her work.
Anton Emmanuel
Anton Emmanuel obtained his medical degree from London University and is A Professor at University College London.
He was appointed Head of the Workforce Race Equality Standard in December 2020. In that role he is moving the focus of the WRES towards embedding local accountability with organisations for their own data – core to that is developing metrics which reflect individual experience of staff in order to implement evidence-based actions.
On a personal basis: father of four, immigrant of African-Asian origin, multiple amateur (guitarist, homebrewer, record collector)
Dr Rachel Morris
Dr Rachel Morris is former GP now working as an Executive Coach and Trainer and host of the popular ‘You Are Not a Frog’ podcast which shares life hacks for busy professionals so they can beat burnout and work happier, which has been featured in the Apple Top 100 UK Business Chart.
Rachel knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and one crisis away from not coping. She believes that you don’t need to dramatically change careers to thrive in your 9-5 (or 8-8) but there are simple things you can do and changes you can make that will make a HUGE amount of difference.
Rachel now specialises in resilience in the workplace for doctors and professionals in high stress jobs and created the Shapes Toolkit Resilience Training Programme which helps people to make the most of their one wild and precious life (thank you Mary Oliver!). Rachel’s online communities include the Permission to Thrive CPD membership for doctors and the Resilient Team Academy membership for Busy Leaders in healthcare and other high stress organisations.
Rachel has also worked as a Red Whale Lead. Manage. Thrive! Course author and presenter, and worked as Assistant Director of GP Studies, for Cambridge University for many years where she also set up and led the Doctor as Professional course. She has also been a tutor for the University of Cambridge Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Education.
Accommodation
All Hotel accommodation is on site at the Queens Hotel
The elegance and grandeur of The Queens flows through every one of their exquisite bedrooms. All 232 bedrooms received a complete transformation in 2021.
If you need to stay further nights before or after the event, this will need to be arranged separately. If you do extend your stay and would like to stay in the same hotel room, please let us know via this portal so we can inform the hotel.
Getting There
The Queens is a 4-star hotel in Leeds city centre, perfect for unique city breaks, weddings & conferences with instant access from the train station
One of the most iconic buildings in Leeds city centre, The Queens Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1937 – some of them rich and famous. A stay here means you’re following in the illustrious footsteps of Princess Grace of Monaco, Cary Grant, Nelson Mandela and Laurel and Hardy.
Today, The Queens is part of The QHotels Collection, and its glamorous history has recently been revived thanks to a £16 million refurbishment, complete with elegant art deco styling and deliciously exotic Grand Pacific restaurant.
Parking - The venue recommends guests park at The Q Park (LS14AG). They have a discounted rate of £15 per 24 hours, this must be paid at the hotel and they will validate the ticket before your departure.
What to bring?
Dress Code please be mindful that there will be an element of walking around the event, so comfortable shoes may be preferable.
The dress code for the daytime will be smart casual and the evening will be lounge suits.
Meals and Refreshments will be provided for you whilst you are with us according to your ticket type, Dietary requirements will be captured via the registration form.
Additional - If you have any medication etc, then please bring this with you (remember not to put it in the hotel bag drop!)
Smart Phone if you have one… we aim to deliver the conference digitally where possible, delegate packs etc, so if you have a smart phone… bring it with you..
Anything else? We are making the day as interactive as possible, so bring your enthusiasm, energy and great ideas!
Exhibitors & Sponsors
