LOC benefits from B&L funding

The first LOC to benefit from industry funding to establish a website has gone 'live' with its communications platform.

Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth LOC received a bursary of 500 from Bausch & Lomb to get the website, built by Primary Health Net (PHN), off the ground. The offer was first publicised earlier this year (News, February 24).

Local practitioners are currently registering with their password to gain access to the site. B&L provided half the build costs to enable the south London organisation to have a web presence which is inter-linked with the other LOCs in the www.primaryhealthnet.com community.

Sarah Chorley, secretary of the LOC, said: 'We know from other colleagues that we have met that the PHN site really can make a difference to the activity of an LOC.

'Improved professional communications are vital in today's fast-moving times, and we will soon reap the benefit of saving time and money while gaining a fast response on issues from our members.'

B&L, through PHN, will pay half the start-up costs of each website for up to 25 LOCs in the profession. The process is administered on a first come first served basis and more LOCs are currently in discussion with PHN and awaiting committee decisions. As an additional concession PHN will also offer free hosting and maintenance in the first year of the two-year contract

'Merton Sutton and Wandsworth are to be congratulated on their prompt uptake of the generous B&L offer,' said Bob Hutchinson, director of PHN. 'We were pleased to be able to respond quickly in producing their site on the knowledge portal.

'The increasing number of LOCs and their geographical spread are having a large impact on the number of practitioners visiting the site each day.

He said the last month had been busy for PHN with its introduction of an optical calendar and increased interest from practitioners.