Meet the Committee – Andrew Edwards

16 March 2026

With over 15 years on the Avon LOC committee — including time as Vice Chair and now as BaNES Lead — Andrew Edwards has seen significant change in community eye care. We caught up with him to reflect on how things have evolved, what he’s most proud of, and what he thinks the future should hold.

You’ve been part of Avon LOC for well over a decade — what’s kept you involved all this time?

“I think it’s probably closer to 15 years now,” Andrew admits. “There have been so many changes over that time; different commissioning structures, different service models, and part of it has been wanting to keep up with those changes and make sure BaNES is represented properly. It’s about making sure the area has a voice.”

You previously served as Vice Chair and now lead for BaNES (Bath and North East Somerset). How has your role evolved over the years?

“At the beginning it was really about understanding how everything worked – who does what, what you need to say and when. I used to attend meetings in Bristol and see what was being done there, then think about how that might apply in Bath.

“Now it’s much more collaborative. We’re not just looking within Avon — we’re working more closely with Wiltshire and neighbouring areas. There’s definitely more communication between committees than there used to be, which is a positive step.”

Looking back, what’s one LOC achievement you’re especially proud to have been part of?

“CUES, without a doubt.”

Andrew recalls being one of the earliest users of the system locally, submitting episode numbers in the low hundreds. Today, national episode numbers are approaching nine million.

“It’s made such a difference. Patients don’t have to sit in hospital for hours waiting to be told they have something we can manage in practice. They know when they’re coming in, what’s going to happen, and what to expect.

“I had a patient recently who came in really worried after Googling her symptoms. Being able to reassure her straight away, that’s what it’s about. That’s something to feel proud of.”

What’s been the biggest challenge during your time on the committee?

“One of the frustrations has been getting commissioners to recognise that we’re here to help, not ‘just doing it for the money’. There can be a narrative that enhanced services are financially driven, but the reality is we’re busy practices. We’re doing this because it benefits patients and relieves pressure elsewhere.

“Sometimes it feels like there’s not enough joined-up thinking. If everyone communicated more openly, services would be far more patient-centred.”

What changes have you seen in community eye care over the last 15 years?

“There have been positives, but in some ways it feels like we’ve gone backwards. We had strong post-cataract and referral refinement schemes in place at one stage in BaNES, and some of that momentum stalled when commissioning structures changed.

“It’s frustrating when you see areas in the North delivering enhanced services effectively, while in the South we’re still debating the same things.”

Andrew also highlights the ongoing cycle of NHS restructuring: “We’ve seen mergers, splits, clustering – sometimes it feels like just as things start working, they change again.”

So what should be the LOC’s biggest focus over the next few years?

“Standardisation. If we’re going to have enhanced services, let’s have clear national specifications that everyone sticks to, like GOS. Consistency would make life easier for practitioners and commissioners alike.”

With your experience, how can we encourage new colleagues to get involved in the LOC?

“One of the barriers is perception. People assume it’s a huge time commitment. In reality, it grows gradually. You don’t walk in on day one and take on everything.

“It’s about learning from experienced members – see one, do one, teach one. We need to make it clear that it’s manageable, and that new voices are genuinely welcome.”

And finally — how do you switch off outside of optics and committee work?

Andrew keeps active with Pilates and running (weather permitting), enjoys spending time with family, and has a passion for cooking.

“I do a good lasagne,” he laughs. “It’s always requested when family come over — there’s no variation allowed!”

Andrew’s long-standing commitment, pragmatic outlook, and focus on patient-centred services continue to play a key role in shaping community eye care across BaNES and the wider Avon area.