Worcestershire LOC
About Us
The Worcestershire LOC is made up of local practitioners and contractors who are interested in representing and supporting local contractors to the NHS. The committee organises events, represents contractors and negotiates with the CCG for new contracts. All members of the committee have a role to play. Many have regular meetings with NHS officers, while others disseminate information to the community.
Harpreet Kular
Chair
Hi I'm Harps, I qualified as an optometrist in 2004 and took on the role of practice manager of Kidderminster Boots Opticians in 2005. I then became the franchisee of Boots Opticians in Worcester from 2007-2017. Here I won the award of 'Franchise of The Year' in 2013. After giving back the franchise in 2017, my husband and I opened our own independent practice in Cheltenham town centre in 2018 and have been there to the present day. When not working in Cheltenham, I also locum in Somerset. I hold a Professional Certificate in Customer Experience and enjoy developing my own practice.
I joined the LOC in 2005 as an observer and have held the role of Vice Chair before becoming the Chair in 2016. I enjoy making a difference within the county when representing performers and contractors, knowing that decisions we make are in the best interests of all our patients. My role in recent years has become more strategic, attending working groups with NHSE to better use the skills we have in community optometry. My role as Chair also includes how to maximise the resources we have as an LOC in skills and how to support the development of the committee members. In my spare time (what's that?!) I like to read, cook, spend time with my young twins and explore the countryside.
Gurdeep Bansal
Vice-chair
I am a graduate of Aston University. After qualifying as an optometrist, I became self-employed and worked in both multiple and independent practices across the Staffordshire, Midlands, Worcestershire & Gloucestershire areas. Ultimately settling down as a resident optometrist in Redditch, Worcestershire in 2011. I joined the Redditch Specsavers branch in 2014, where I have been the Ophthalmic Director since 2015. I joined the Worcestershire LOC in 2016 to help promote community optometry services in the Redditch & Bromsgrove areas. I am currently the representative for the Redditch area to the LOC. While being part of the committee, I have also been active in sub-committees to help with website development, communication & CET event organisation. Most recently I have been elected to Vice-Chair of Worcestershire LOC in 2019.
Stuart Burdett
Secretary
I am currently the Secretary of Worcestershire LOC and a practising Optometrist at Pershore Eyecare Centre, I also locum at a couple of other independent practices in Worcestershire. I also provides some services as an Optometric Adviser to the NHS. Having been in optics for 35 years now, I have held a number of positions in the sector including Professional Services and Business Development. My areas of interest include compliance, regulation, NHS contracts, GOS advice and training. I also look after DBS checks for the LOC.'
Meet the Committee
Jonathan Lee
Treasurer
Jonathan has worked as an Optometrist for 34 years. When he first qualified, he started working in Sheffield, and then began locuming. Jonathan then joined Specsavers and is currently a Director of their branches in Kidderminster, Stourport-on-Severn and Droitwich. He has been a member of the Worcestershire LOC for a number of years, and is now our treasurer as of 2021. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and cycling. Much to our shock, he is also a dab hand at playing the Piano, something we still have not yet had the pleasure of witnessing, during our numerous Zoom committee meetings.
Matt Burford
CPD lead
I qualified in 2004 having completed my pre reg at Specsavers, Redditch. Since that time, I have been providing a domiciliary service across Worcestershire and the surrounding areas for OutsideClinic. Having joined the committee about ten years ago to stay in touch with high street optometry, I am currently CET lead. If you would like any topics covered, or have requests for speakers please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
I have also had several articles published in Optometry Today and Optician magazine and worked with DOCET to produce an episode of their “Ageing Eye” Series. In 2020, I was shortlisted for AOP Optometrist of the Year, and although ultimately unsuccessful, I am not bitter in the slightest.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf and spending time with my family where I can regularly be spotted frequent local farm parks.
Victoria Merrett
Committee Member
I am an Optometrist based in an independent practice in Worcester. I have been a member of Worcestershire LOC since 2012. I have been actively involved in the development of Community Optometry services in the county and have been the Clinical Governance and Performance Lead for Primary Eyecare Services in Worcestershire since 2019 as well as representing Worcester City on the LOC. I am also a trustee of a local charity supporting people with sight loss and, away from work, I play the piano (in her own words "badly") as well as learning how to complete cryptic crosswords.
Laura Langford
Committee Member
Laura works at two independent clinics: Peter Smith Opticians, in Pershore, since October 2017, and the Cotswold Eyecare Centre, in Winchcombe (Gloucs) since January 2019. She graduated in 2001 from Aston and did her pre reg year at Cheltenham General Hospital, where she continued to work full time until 2009. In 2009, Laura and her husband moved to Vancouver, Canada, where they spent almost 8 years. During that time she obtained an Optometry license by completing the International Optometric Bridging Program and the Canadian Standard Assessment of Optometry. In 2017, Laura moved back to the UK with her two children, and settled near Pershore.
Laura joined the Worcestershire LOC in July 2019 as she wanted to be involved in communicating the LOC's work to other local Optometrists; increasing her knowledge on commissioning and local referral pathways; as well as contributing to ensuring optometry is fully integrated into primary health care delivery to help it thrive as a profession. Laura feels that her experiences of working abroad and previously within the NHS gives a valuable perspective and can bring in new ideas. She found out about the LOC by attending the AGM and the CET events they provide. Laura helps represent the Pershore and Evesham areas of our County. When she is not working in Optics, Laura is working hard at home looking after her two energetic boys. alongside her love for running, yoga, cooking, seeing friends and being outdoors. Laura is also a member of the school PTFA committee.
Jim Osborne
Committee Member
I is an Optometrist Independent Prescriber with 41 years post registration experience. I was a founding member of the revised Worcestershire LOC established in 1997 following “Wexit” regained it’s independence from Herefordshire. I have served as Honorary Treasurer (2006-2021) and have been Clinical Governance Lead since 2001. I established the first NHS funded Community Optometry Service in Worcestershire in 2002 and have made major
contributions to subsequent COS contracts. I established the James Osborne Optometry practice
in Evesham which I ran for 25 years before selling the business in 2014 and taking a part time position as Speciality Doctor in Optometry at Worcester hospital. I also undertake locum work in a Worcestershire high street practice and is a contract holder for a domiciliary service in both Worcestershire and Warwickshire. I hold a number of post-graduate certificates in Clinical Optometry and am a member of the livery of The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (SMC), being a freeman of the City of London, and yes, have driven sheep across London bridge! I served six years as a Trustee of the SMC charity, having been involved with projects in London, the UK at large, Eastern Europe and Africa. Originating from Bournemouth (when it was in the “County of Southampton”) outside of Optometry I can be found regularly cycling along the promenade at Bournemouth beach.
Amy Clarke
Committee Member
Amy qualified as an Optometrist in 2004 from Bradford University and as an Independent Prescribing Optometrist in 2017. She currently works for an independent practice in Cheltenham and also works as a hospital Optometrist for Worcestershire Acute Trust. Amy has a special interest in Glaucoma and Paediatrics. Her roles on the LOC include representing optometry at a hospital level, as well as coordinating the access of WOPEC modules for performers who would like to gain an extra accreditation.
Andrew Jelley
Committee Member
Andrew has been practising in Tenbury Wells and Bromyard for nearly 40 years, during which Andrew has seen alot of changes. In addition to the Worcestershire LOC committee, he also sits on the Herefordshire LOC, with the aim of hopefully providing a liaison between the two.
When Andrew is not working, he enjoys playing golf (admittedly "badly") and takes a keen interest in Rugby.
Andy Griffin
Committee Member
Andy has worked in optics since 1999 and qualified as a Dispensing Optician in 2004. He runs Pershore Eyecare Centre Ltd. with his business partner which they opened in 2017 as a new starter practice. Outside of work Andy attempts to spend as much time with his family outdoors, either working on our allotment, playing hockey or hillwalking.
Andy joined the Worcestershire LOC in 2017, as a DO contractor and has been involved with the social media and communications team since then.
Steve Bainbridge
Committee Member
Steve is an Optometrist and Practice owner in Worcestershire. He qualified as an Optometrist in 2005 and has worked within a family independent practice ever since. Steve first joined the Worcestershire LOC in 2006 and spent a number of years learning the endless stream of acronyms before stepping down. He re-joined the LOC 2 years ago and has found it to be a very positively updated experience. Along with other things, Steve is currently involved with the new Worcestershire LOC social media team.
In his spare time Steve likes to spend time with his kids, and if they allow him any real spare time he also enjoys swimming, cycling and running.
Pritpal Sandhu
Officer
Pritpal is the principal optometrist, NHS contractor and co-owner of Peter Smith Opticians, Pershore, Worcestershire. He received his BSc (Hons) Optometry degree from Aston University, Birmingham and has worked at Peter Smith Opticians since 2003. Pritpal has an interest in complex contact lens fitting, dry eye assessment and visual stress. This interest stems from helping patients with more complex visual needs and the need to find a solution to a problem. Pritpal joined the Worcestershire LOC in July 2019. He has always kept himself informed of changes in the local area and has now felt the need to be part of the discussion to benefit our patients in Worcestershire. His role is to assist with communications amongst its members and within the primary care trust. Outside of work, he is a doting father to 2 girls, Simran and Amrita. He looks forward to breaks away during half term where he and the family often explore what the UK has to offer. When he is not working, he also enjoys a bit of DIY often doing home improvements (not just in his house!).
Sayyida Nassimizadeh
Officer
Sayyida is an Optometrist working for an Independent Practice, Eye Opticians. She joined the LOC committee in 2020, during the COVID pandemic, Sayyida now plays a role on the Social Media Team. Our new Instagram page, is under her capable hands. Sayyida qualified in 2014, and is currently mid-way through completing the Independant Prescribing Qualification and the Professional Certificate in Medical Retina.
Outside of work, Sayyida loves travelling, exploring new cultures and delving into the world of arts, photography as well as being a car enthusiast.