Welcome to the Solihull LOC
This website has been developed to allow easy access to committee documents and act as a source of useful information for local eye-care providers.
About Us
The LOC endeavours to develop the role of local optometrists and dispensing opticians and to improve the services available
- Kazim Haji
Solihull LOC is the organisation representing Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians in Solihull. Our function is to liaise with NHS England, local area teams and CCGs on matters relating to eye care. LOCs were established by the NHS (Amendment) Act 1949 as the optical Local Representative Committee (LRC) whose primary care counterparts are Local Medical Committees, Local Pharmaceutical Committees and Local Dentistry Committees. Therefore, they are bodies created by statute and have an important and defined legislative role. LOCs are funded by a statutory levy on GOS sight tests (GOS forms 1, 5 and 6 fees) in their localities.
A well-run LOC is a major asset to the local optical community, NHS and local authorities and the public alike. As a registered CPD provider the LOC provides a number of educational events during the year. We are also associated with other LOC’s and form part of the Regional Optical Committee (ROC).
Meetings take place around 11 times a year. All are welcome to attend. We strongly encourage contractors and performers in the Solihull area to bring any concerns they may have to us.
Our next meetings
Meetings for 2025 & 2026 will be a mix of virtual and in person, please see dates below which are subject to change. Parking, Refreshments and Sandwiches provided.
2026:
- 5th January – Virtual
- 2nd February – Face to Face
- 2nd March – Virtual
- 13th April – Virtual
- 11th May – Face to Face
- 8th June – Virtual – t.b.c.
- 6th July – Face to Face
- 1st September – Virtual
- 16th September – AGM
- 5th October – Face to Face
- 2nd November – Virtual
- 7th December – Virtual
Our LOC Members
Spencer Parkes
Chair
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I’m foremost an Optometrist & have been involved with Solihull LOC, with a range of different roles, for more years than I can remember! Over the years we have been instrumental in tailoring your LOC to meet the needs of the ever changing Optical Landscape & representing Optometry at a local level. I devote my spare time to my family, cycling, cooking & travel, in particular and when feasible, combining all four in Italy.
Sukhi Drake
Vice Chair
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I was the Secretary of Solihull LOC from 2018-2025 and now I am the Vice Chair. I am a contractor optometrist. My role is to check and respond to emails in a regular basis that comes in to Solihull LOC. I distribute notifications and circulate minutes of meetings. In my spare time, I enjoy playing tennis, the gym and reading, spending time with my children.
Cassandra Kendall
Secretary
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After being Treasurer for 11 years I stood down in 2023. In 2025 I became the Secretary. I am also supporting the new Treasurer in her role, and the rest of the committee with current activities.
Simone Mason
Vice Secretary
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I’m a registered Dispensing Optician and have been a co-opted member of Solihull LOC since 2016, taking on roles such as Clinical Governance and Performance Lead, and currently serving as vice-secretary. I hold a WOPEC PG CERT in Eye Care Governance and continue to work in an Independent Opticians in Solihull, with over 25 years in the Independent sector. As LOCSU’s Training and Development Lead, I’m passionate about developing leadership skills and running online courses for new LOC members.
Treasurer
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I am a locum Optometrist for three of the high street multiples. I have been a committee member of the Solihull LOC since 2018 – where I started off co-managing the social media pages. I then stepped into the role of treasurer in January 2024, and in this role I am responsible for record keeping of all transactions by the LOC and producing end of year reports. I also run payroll, and ensure that money utilised from the levy paid by our constitutents is managed effectively. My final role is to co-produce the quarterly newsletter for the LOC.
Outside of the LOC I love travelling, reading and spending time with family.
Arooj Wahid
Communications Officer
I have been a social media officer since 2018. I regularly update our LOC’s social media pages. Making sure I share the latest and most relevant topics so our community are up to date and well informed. I also ensure any questions or enquiries don’t go amiss. I’m a locum optometrist who enjoys walks, theatre and travelling! We are a friendly, welcoming committee and love to interact so don’t be shy!
Hitesh Parmar
Education Officer
I have been Solihull educational officer since 2016. I am a contractor optometrist. My role is to help facilitate training events, enhance engagement and upskill our local professionals. Not sure I have any spare time with children who consume most of my time, but we enjoy traveling and often found doing something to the planet!
LOC Member
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I have previously been Vice Chairman of Solihull for over 10 years. My role was to support to our fantastic Chairman, which involved attending meetings and contact with other healthcare stakeholders, such as the Regional Optical Confederation. I am an optometrist, and owner of Perspective Opticians, an independent private practice in Solihull. Running around after our two boys Bert & Fred is also a full time job, but cars are my guilty pleasure….I even enjoy cleaning them.
Joshua Poole
Hospital Liaison Officer
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Hello, I was co-opted as the Hospital Liaison Officer for the LOC in 2024. I am an Optometrist working for University Hospitals Birmingham predominantly at Solihull hospital. I specialise in glaucoma and corneal care and am keen to help develop service delivery in the local area. I also help facilitate the relationship between primary and secondary care.
Brendan O'Doherty
Referrals Officer / IT Lead
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I have been the referrals officer for the LOC for the past few years. In 2025 I became the IT Lead also and I maintain our website. I have previously completed the Professional Certificate in Medical Retina and I enjoy furthering my knowledge in the profession. Outside of my professional roles, I play American Football for the Birmingham Bulls American Football Team
Bejal Karavadra
LOC Member
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I am a registered Optometrist with Independent Prescribing (IP) qualification and the Professional Certificate in Glaucoma. Since September 2025, I have served as a committee member for Solihull LOC. I currently work as a Professional Services Manager for a national chain of opticians, overseeing clinical governance and supporting clinical excellence, professional development, and service delivery across multiple practices. In my role, I work with a number of optical bodies across the service to enhance clinical care and professional development. I have also completed initial WOPEC Lead Assessor training in July 2025, with the view to supporting the upskilling of clinicians across the profession.
Kashif Hussain
LOC Member
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Joining the committee in 2025, after previously being on another LOC, I am a Lead Optometrist of a high street practice who also works in secondary care. I have also been building on my clinical capacity through higher qualifications, working with students and pre-registration Optometrists, and assessing those sitting their MECS and Glaucoma OSCEs with WOPEC. I look forward to using what I have learnt from my experiences, along with all I learn form here on out, to support those in Solihull that we represent as an LOC.
The members of Solihull Local Optical Committee have created a WhatsApp group called ‘Solihull Optical Support’ Group Chat- SOS. Please use the link below to email the LOC if you would like to join the group and please invite any colleagues too.
The aim of this chat is to help bring the Solihull optical community together and help support each other. Please try and keep this chat to professional work. The Solihull LOC Committee members are also on this chat to help answer any queries. You can find more details about the committee members above, we hope this will be a useful forum.