The first constitution of the Local Optical Committee (LOC) was in 1969. It is a committee which represents Optometrists and registered Dispensing Opticians working in the area. It is contiguous with the GP Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). There are 3 CCGs in the West Sussex area:

• Coastal West Sussex CCG
• Crawley CCG
• Horsham & Mid-Sussex CCG

West Sussex LOC sits in the NHS England South Regional Area and is the official organisation representing Optometrists, Dispensing Opticians and Optical practices working in West Sussex.

Members are elected in the usual manner of any committee at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the honorarium members serve a term of four years. The constitution is reviewed 4 yearly or when there is a statutory change.

Through this website we aim to provide eye care practitioners, other health care professionals and the public with information on all aspects of eye care provision available within all regions of West Sussex.

West Sussex LOC exists to:

• Liaise with local NHS commissioners and other organisations
• Collate and disseminate information and correspondence on mandatory procedures, best practice and bench marking to the profession
• Provide continued education training and promote excellence through training for eye care professionals in our area
• Promote and develop the role of optometry and dispensing optics within the community
• Develop partnerships in shared care with the CCG and neighbouring LOCs
• To advise NHS England on matters affecting practitioners providing General Ophthalmic Services (GOS).

We are keen to support and promote the community eye care services that are funded and available in the West Sussex CCG areas, with an aim to:

• Provide seamless patient care across primary and secondary care
• Help reduce hospital lists
• Provide local access for patients/ less travel for patients
• Improve collaboration between health professionals

Funding

WSLOC funding is received from NHS England with Primary Care Support Services and is called the Statutory Levy. This levy is derived from each NHS eye examination conducted, i.e. the levy is raised by dividing the requested amount by the number of eye examinations conducted by all practices in the 3 CCG areas.