14 July 2025
Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU) chief executive officer, Janice Foster, outlined the organisation’s 2025–2028 strategic plan at the National Optical Conference (18-19 May, Hilton Birmingham Metropole).
The plan, which is titled LOCs: shaping the future of local eye care, follows two years of consultation and collaboration with LOCs.
The strategy is underpinned by three pledges: to enhance LOC operations, enable LOC influence, and empower LOC strategy development.
Foster highlighted that the NHS needs sustainable solutions and radical innovation.
“We know that optometry practices on the High Street offer established and effective solutions,” she emphasised.
Noting that eye care accounts for 3% of the NHS budget, Foster shared the need to “be realistic in our optimism.”
“We know that eye care works best when it is commissioned at the largest possible footprint, and then delivered at the most local footprint,” she said.
Foster highlighted that the strategy is designed to secure optometry’s position within local health systems.
“Standing still is not an option,” she said.
Enhancing LOC operations
Foster shared that enhancing LOC operations is about ensuring efficient, future-ready LOC committees.
“It's about reducing administrative burdens and freeing up leaders to focus on local commissioning and service innovation,” she emphasised.
She observed that this will involve avoiding duplication, streamlining processes and strengthening leadership capacity with a focus on succession planning.
“We want to ensure resilience and sustainability by supporting the development of future LOC leaders,” Foster said.
Enabling LOC influence
Foster explained that the second pledge aims to support LOCs to influence local service commissioning.
“Over the next three years, we will stand beside LOCs. We will provide you with the national expertise and evidence-driven support to effectively protect local eye care services and unlock opportunities for future service expansion,” she said.
Foster shared that LOCSU would provide resources and templates in collaboration with subject matter experts to support LOCs in establishing influence. She added that these templates would be tailored to recognise local needs.
Empowering LOC strategy development
Foster highlighted that the second pledge of influence is at its strongest when it is backed by a long-term strategy.
“That is why the final pledge focuses on empowering locs to shape the future,” she said.
“Through horizon-scanning we will identify up and coming changes, innovations and challenges, ensuring that LOCs are actively involved in discussions and empowered with knowledge to secure a sustainable future for services,” Foster emphasised.
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