Appointees to influence local commissioning

The Local Optical Committee Support Unit has welcomed the government's response to the NHS Future Forum and has appointed two optometrists as optical leads to work with senior commissioners regionally.

Director of operations and commissioning Katrina Venerus said: 'We are delighted that the need to widen involvement in clinical commissioning groups has been recognised in the government's response to the Future Forum's report on the proposed NHS reforms.

'It is clear that developing eye care services in the community is central to quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) and "right care" delivery and LOCSU is undertaking a number of initiatives to ensure that commissioners are aware that optometrists and dispensing opticians provide an ideal solution to improve patient access, convenience and choice.