The Association of Optometrists has welcomed the restructuring in October of primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and claimed that most optometrists would notice little change in practice.
AOP chairman Trevor Warburton said PCTs 'were too small' and plans to halve the number from 303 to 152 was likely to achieve the aim of improving the operation of the health service.
'Some local optometric committeess may need to merge,' he said. 'Or there may be some overlaps so there might be some juggling between them.'
Warburton suggested that LOCs might allow cross-membership, with members of disbanded LOCs joining existing LOCs which take over their functions, until the next committee elections next year.
However, he said that LOCs would probably also need new elections on the back of new constitutions to be imposed by the Health Act.
The PCT restructuring will in most cases see adjacent PCTs merging. In six cases Cherwell Vale, Morecambe Bay, Poole, Preston, South Peterborough and Waverley the PCTs will disappear and their functions be passed to neighbouring PCTs. All London PCTs will remain unchanged.