North Yorkshire Local Optical Committee
North Yorkshire LOC Thursday 15th January 2026
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 15 th January 2026 at The Crown Hotel Boroughbridge.
1. Attendees:
Sarah Farrell, Katherine Friis, Deryck Watts, Charlotte Turner, Eleanor Mace, Katie Nicholls,
Observed by Ruth Young (Optometrist in York), Sejal (Contractor/performer), Siobhan (pre reg optometrist)
2. Apologies for absence
Darryl Taylor, Jack Carr, Gillian Carr, Kate Malyn and Melanie Linegar.
3. Minutes of the LOC meeting held on 13/10/2025. (Circulated prior via email) The minutes were deemed to be a true representation of the meetings held, agreed by those present.
4. Matters arising from the minutes.
Matters arising will be covered by the agenda points of this meeting.
Katherine used Google Drive for links in the agenda for live document viewing and to go paperless.
5. SPoA
Gratitude was shared by Katherine to LOCSU for providing help to resolve the ODS proxy issue. The ODS code was the ICB’s solution to make sure the Optometrist was the named referrer on Gateway referrals. This meant practices needed to share their ODS responsibilities with the Choice Office which hasn’t been known to happen before. LOCSU’s guidance was sort on this and they have agreed this does meet the requirements it sees fit. The ICB drafted a letter to all contractors and performers informing them of this; originally saying it was from the LOC with LOCSU support. Katherine asked for this to be changed to make it clear it was an ICB initiative the LOC has oversight on, not the LOC’s desire to have a SPoA.
This was communicated within the LOC’s December 2025 newsletter.
The advice from the LOC remains unchanged that practices should review and ensure that the Gateway system is suitable for their use. In North Yorkshire and Humber ICB there has been 50% uptake to Gateway and 40% referrals via this method.
Those not signed up to use Gateway should complete a GOS18 or equivalent and email it to Choice for cataract referrals.
The ICB has confirmed a mandatory 16week wait list for cataract operations now.
Optegra have been listing patients for second eye cataract surgery after the first operation, without them being referred back by the Optometrist after the post-op cataract review. This has caused some confusion in community. Previous guidance was to refer for the first cataract operation, complete the post-op assessment and re-refer via SPoA for the second eye.
The LOC will contact the ICB to confirm if referring for bilateral cataract surgery in one referral is accepted or whether each eye should be referred individually to allow patient choice of provider. The response will then be shared on the LOC website.
If clinicians feel patients are not receiving choice, they can contact the LOC so we can collate the data and check for patterns of behaviour.
6. Cataract Post op and other ICB schemes There is no further information on a possible increase in the post op cataract fee currently, despite this being raised by Katherine at the Eyecare Clinical Network. There will be a new glaucoma scheme for stable monitoring of low risk glaucoma/ ocular
hypertension in the near future. This proposed scheme would be in addition to the current GRR (glaucoma repeat readings). There are no specific details as yet including which qualifications would be needed.
7. WOPEC assessment evening
There were 12 responses to the email circulated in advance of this meeting regarding requests to attend WOPEC assessments. From these responses: 9 were for MECS, 4 for Glaucoma and 10 for foreign body removal. This is enough candidates to make it viable to hold a WOPEC assessment evening funded by North Yorkshire LOC. If all attend, it would allow 2 rounds of MECS (max 12 clinicians with rest stations), 1 round of Glaucoma (max 6 with a rest station) and the foreign body workshop (max 1:3 ratio so 15 clinicians to 5
assessors) with a few spaces free on each. It was therefore suggested we could invite East Yorkshire LOC to extend the offer to their clinicians and share the cost.
It was agreed this year’s WOPEC assessment event will be held on Thursday 23 rd April 2026 in the evening. Charlotte kindly offered Specsavers Vanguard free of charge as the host for the event. Katherine is happy to organise as she has connections with other WOPEC assessors.
Last year, a similar WOPEC assessment evening funded by North Yorkshire LOC cost £1227. This covered paying the assessors mainly, and a small fee to the patients to confirm their attendance. Clinicians attending from the area attended free of charge (funded by the LOC) but delegates who cancelled 48hrs or less before the date were charged £50. A similar offer will be provided again this year.
8. Hypertension
There has been formal confirmation of the decommissioning of the NHS Hypertension scheme, therefore it will end on the 31 st March 2026. The reason given for this was poor uptake.
The LOC will prompt stores to check if they have any hypertension fees they need to claim and to do so before the scheme ends as the hypertension funds are being recalled from the LOCs; minus corporation tax and admin fees.
It was stated that optical sites can keep the equipment and practitioners can if they wish continue to take BP readings to support clinical work and referrals. Community pharmacy sites will continue to offer BP checks and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) as part of their participation in the National Hypertension Case Finding Service so patients may be signposted to local pharmacies, if required.
9. ICB Workforce Funding
The workforce training funds are being cut due to the 47% budget cut to North Yorkshire and Humber ICB. There will be a consultation as to which option will be the preferred choice going forward. The three options proposed are: 1) to reduce the initial workforce funds by 47% 2) to reduce the remaining workforce funds by 47% or Debbie Leadbetter’s hybrid proposal to appease the ICB who need £150,000 back to be on target and reduces the remaining workforce funds by 43% to help the LOC.
North Yorkshire initially received around £165,000. We have spent £60,500 of this. Option 1 would leave North Yorkshire LOC with £26,847 left to spend. Across all the ICB in total they would have £180,000 returned which is above the ICB target. Option 2 to give back 47% of the remaining workforce funds as of September 2025 at £103,000 and would leave North Yorkshire LOC with £54,000 left to spend. Across all the ICB in total they would have £108,000 returned which is below the ICB target. Option 3 would leave us with £43,000 and the ICB get their £150,000 target. On discussing this, it was agreed and proposed by those present to opt for option 3; as although option 2 would benefit the LOC more, it would appear fairer to both the ICB and LOC for option 3 and then they hopefully won’t choose option 1 where the LOC loses out. The LOC would request in writing that any remaining funds to the LOC are no longer under ICB control and no longer solely for the workforce funding and therefore could be spent on other training.
The funding would eventually run out and thereafter we would need to decide as an LOC what we spend money on. Sprint events for example cost £3,000 per LOC per year. Perhaps the LOC could choose to fund professional certificates specifically required for active enhanced services.
10. LOCSU
Katherine thanked LOCSU for their support with the ODS code for the SPoA.
Katherine attended a LOCSU regional meeting report and shared a brief overview of the most recent LOCSU meeting minutes. Full minutes are available to read by committee
members if they wish.
LOCSU provided a national OFNC response which was shared in the recent LOC newsletter.
There are communication forums being held on 21 st January 2026 1-2pm and on Thursday 22nd January 2026 6.30-7.30pm.
11. LOC Constitution
Katherine enlisted support from Charlotte, Eleanor and Katie in reading and checking documents linked to the LOC Constitution. Charlotte was thanked for completing the data protection paper already. There are about 50% of the supporting documents available now to complete; Katherine linked these in the agenda document for easy access. It was requested the completed papers be uploaded to a shared google drive once completed to avoid duplicated work. The rest will be revisited and completed prior to the AGM.
The new LOC Constitution will be discussed at the AGM and can agree an adoption then.
12.Communication Officer Role
This role will be formally introduced at the AGM. Melanie has volunteered for this position prior to the meeting. Derryck recommended we set out expectations of what the role entails.
It could include: an LOC monthly newsletter, the North Yorkshire LOC LinkedIn page/ social media, the LOC website and its content.
To avoid duplication, Katherine confirmed the Secretary shall now complete the full minutes of the meetings but not the key points of the meeting for the LOC website as this information will now be captured in the monthly newsletter and emailed directly to those on the LOC mailing list.
13.Update on CECS/GRR remuneration request
Charlotte Liddle (Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, covering Primary Care including GPs) has confirmed an indefinite pause on any possible increase in remuneration request due to the ICB funding restructure. The ICB has had 47% of their budget cut for this year.
It was decided by the committee members present that we do not propose an LOC response to this at this time in order to keep the enhanced service we have going. Other local areas such as Leeds have recently had their service reduced. North and North East Lincs may have a higher tariff but their scheme is less accessible to patients.
The CECS in North Yorkshire runs up until March 2027. It was proposed by committee members present that the LOC discuss with Naomi Smith at PES (who are running the current CECS) what the plan is likely to be over the coming year for the service.
14. Request from commissioner for Northallerton Opticians regarding asylum seeker.
Charlotte shared that the AOP in 2021 confirmed on their website that asylum seekers requesting eye tests, not yet in receipt of a HC2 certificate, can still be tested under GOS and Universal Credit be ticked as their benefit at that time (until said HC2 certificate be received), tick evidence not seen and name the temporary bridging hotel as their address, which would be accepted by the NHS.
Katherine will liaise with Debbie Leadbetter as this is contradictory to information provided by her in the ICB GOS commissioner role.
15. Special schools eyecare scheme update
Katherine explained that Melanie (not present at the meeting today) is not continuing to provide school screening for personal reasons, but is happy to advocate for it.
16. CPD day
The CPD day in 2025 was well attended (48 delegates), despite the new location of Vanguard Community Stadium in outer York, rather than the National Railway Museum in central York. There were 288 CPD points issued in total. The majority of feedback responses for the day were rated excellent and good for speakers/topics, venue, food and the event organisation. Negative feedback given included: only half of the CPD points were available
to dispensing opticians and that some delegates were having a conversation while the speaker was presenting which was a distraction and could have been addressed at the time.
Charlotte on behalf of the North Yorkshire LOC is happy to organise the CPD day with the help from Perspective. A date around October 2026 will be booked if available and shared with Perspective. Due to the positive feedback from the last CPD day and the familiarity of the venue to local consultants to attract them to present, Vanguard Community Stadium was settled upon again to host the 2026 LOC CPD day.
17. Financial report (circulated prior to the meeting, presented by Charlotte)
Together, the LOC Barclays accounts hold a balance of £597,786.34.
Expenditures have included: workforce payments totalling around £30,000 for the current year, Sprint event payments, LOCSU who collected the domiciliary levy, meeting and honorarium payments. WOPEC events and the CPD day is all paid off.
As the hypertension scheme funds are being recalled and the ICB Workforce Funds are being cut, the LOC will need to pay corporation tax on these. Charlotte is awaiting information from an accountant on this. The LOC will be able to keep the interest made from these in the accounts.
Katherine recommended that a financial budget for the year be made and shared at the AGM, like would be done for a business. There is plenty of money remaining in the accounts and as the LOC is not for profit, we could consider giving money back to contractors whilststill maintaining a healthy balance. From April 2026, it is agreed that the LOC will move to using the PAYE method to pay: honorariums, meeting attendance, work completed for the LOC and travel. Charlotte will collate all the relevant information from LOC committee members after the AGM to allow payments to be made via PAYE.
There will be a link created and shared after the AGM so LOC committee members can inform the Treasurer of: their first and surname, national insurance number, date of birth, home address and email address to allow the PAYE payments. Philip has had some difficulties with Barclays bank in trying to move the LOC address to Charlotte’s home address. Once this is done, then Charlotte can provide the hourly rate, the honorarium (£1000 that will be split over the year and paid monthly) and expenses that can be emailed monthly.
Previously, as confirmed by Phil via email, the honorarium was paid in arrears of the year prior as a one-off payment of £1000 at the start of January. This was therefore paid January 2026 for January to December 2025. For January to March 2026, £250 will be paid to the LOC Officers in March 2026 before starting monthly PAYE payments in April.
A flat rate of £60 per hour (maximum day rate £400) has been put forward for completing work/ attending meetings for North Yorkshire LOC.
Katherine confirmed the Secretary can now claim for the time taken to write the LOC minutes. This can be back paid for this year gone. Katherine will send an invoice template so x3 meetings can be claimed and sent on to the Treasurer for payment. The invoice template will be shared with all LOC committee members.
18. Proposed body of work on Paediatrics/ school screening
There is good school vision screening provision in York, but the wider North Yorkshire area is falling short. Harrogate doesn’t have any school screening, which should be funded by the council. North Yorkshire LOC would like to improve paediatric school screening and launch this as an idea at the AGM.
Best practice examples of paediatric/ school screening have been requested by Specsavers EOS team who have offered their support.
Essex and Durham LOC have good functioning paediatric services. Essex in particular has reduced the HES wait time by half for routine paediatric appointments. We are awaiting more information from these LOCs to help.
Charlotte suggested contacting York HES Orthoptist Patricia McCready to help show how improvement in this area could positively impact the HES and the patients.
Katherine included a LOCSU pathway resource link attached in the agenda for information regarding paediatric pathways. This is based on a RAG rating system (red, amber, green).
Flagged as red means needing referral to the HES, amber is to be seen by optometry and green is those that can be discharged.
In this LOCSU template for instance, a referral from a child’s vision screening rated as amber would be seen by Optometry for a GOS funded test and an additional fee (for baseline BV assessment/ stereopsis, cycloplegia and therefore a dilated examination of eye health). If there is no defect, the child would be discharged to GOS for normal sight test recalls. If there was reduced vision and a fully accommodative strabismus which can be managed with refraction, then there would be a 6week review (funded by the paediatric
scheme, not GOS). If progressing well, they could go to an 18week check and discharged to GOS thereafter. If at any point there is a manifest strabismus or pathology or they don’t respond to refractive treatment then they are referred to HES paediatrics.
It was proposed that the research to demonstrate the need for a paediatric service be shared among the sub-committee members. Katie put herself forward to share this with Melanie if she is interested.
This need could then be emphasised formally to the ICB and via templated letters to MPs written by practitioners, GPs, and the HES. The information could be sent to schools and parents in areas with no paediatric screening service so they can help support the effort with their voice too.
19. Teesside University engagement.
Katherine is attending with Steph (another Tyneside LOC Chair) an LOC engagement meeting with Optometry students at Teesside University on 4 th March 2026. The aim is to promote the LOC and our role within Optometry. It was proposed the same could be done at Bradford and Huddersfield University. Ed Mallen could be contacted to help arrange this.
20. Date for the next meeting and AGM.
The next meeting will be held on Monday 30th March 2026 at The Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge. It was proposed that an OCCS CPD peer review with DO/OO points available be held before the AGM to entice more practitioners to attend. The meeting will be available in person and online to boost attendance. There will be a short interval for buffet food, then followed by the AGM; and thereafter the LOC meeting for committee members.
21. Any other business
Specsavers Ripon raised a concern around GPs requesting a GOS sight test for newly diagnosed hypertension. This is because if an NHS patient has only recently had a GOS test it’s not always appropriate to code another test shortly after as 5.1 (test at the request of a medical professional).
Katie raised that some GP surgeries advise walk in appointments at Opticians for CECS.
Whereas, they should be providing the patient with the telephone number to book a specific CECS appointment. This is because some patients can be triaged and dealt with by a telephone Optometrist which keeps the cost of running CECS down and increases the likelihood of being able to keep the service running for longer.
Katherine noted she would like to draft a document for the Local Medical Committee to share with GPs as a reminder of what constitutes a GOS and how to signpost patients into CECS correctly.
The meeting was closed.