Conrad Beacham.jpg

I am the Head of Department and have worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital since 1997. I examine both paediatric and adult patients in a variety of clinics within the hospital. I have a paediatric clinic in Lytham on a Friday.

Louise Johnston - Orthoptic webpage.jpg

I have worked as an Orthoptist since my graduation from Liverpool University in 2020. I was working in Kent for 3 years before starting at Blackpool in 2023.

My current role includes seeing a mix of adults in Blackpool Victoria Hospital and children in community clinics in and around Blackpool, Thornton and Fleetwood.

To further my professional development, I have completed the BIOS clinical tutors' course, so I get the chance to teach and encourage future generations of orthoptists.

 

Rebecca Smart.jpg

I started working in Blackpool as an orthoptist in January 2017 after graduating from Sheffield University. I have experience assessing a variety of adult and paediatric orthoptic patients at the hospital and in community clinics. In addition to my clinical commitments, I am also the lead of the Lancashire Vision Screening Service.

The service provides yearly vision tests for 15,000 four to five-year-old children who attend Lancashire County Council schools. I support the orthoptic stroke service by providing orthoptic assessments for patients with visual symptoms post stroke. I also organise and manage clinical placements for orthoptic students as the lead clinical tutor.

Ammarah Patel.jpg

I have worked as an orthoptist since graduating in 2014 and have worked for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals since May 2018. My current role involves the delivery of the vision screening service in special schools in Blackpool. I carry out the vision screening for the eligible children in these schools, along with Iqra. I also attend South Shore Primary Care Centre on Tuesday afternoons to conduct a paediatric orthoptic clinic.

Ayesha Motala photo for Orthoptic page.JPG

I have worked as an orthoptist for 8 years, since graduating in 2015 and have recently started working at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.

 My current role as the Orthoptic Stroke Lead involves assessing in-patients and out-patients in a ward-based setting. I also undertake a variety of adult and paediatric clinics, working alongside optometrists and ophthalmologists.

Suhaylah Bapu.jpg

I am an orthoptist and I graduated from the University of Liverpool in July 2017. I worked at Royal Preston Hospital before joining the team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals in July 2018. I assess both adults and children in clinics at the hospital and in the community. I am currently the vision screening lead for the Lancashire Vision Screening Service and the Blackpool School Screening Service. Both services involve the delivery of eye tests for children aged four to five years at school. I am responsible for organising, auditing and managing both services.

Katherine Sullivan.jpg

I have worked as an Orthoptist at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals since September 2019. I work part-time Wednesday to Friday.

I am the Paediatric Orthoptic Lead and work with Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Aly on Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning, assessing paediatric patients in the Women and Children's Unit. I also assess adult patients in the adult ocular motility clinic once a month. In addition to this, I assess paediatric patients at Moor Park on Wednesday mornings and South Shore on Thursday afternoons

I am also the Special Schools Visual Screening Lead, which involves me organising and carrying out visual screening for the eligible children in the special schools in Blackpool.

In addition to my clinical commitments, I am also the Lead Clinical Tutor at Blackpool for undergraduate orthoptic students.

Iqra Altaf.jpg

I am the BIOS trade union representative for Blackpool and have worked as a fullt-ime othoptist for Blackpool since February 2020. My role includes assessing a variety of both paediatric and adult patients in community and at the hospital.

I work with multiple healthcare professionals such as optometrists in my orthoptic-optometrist joint clinics on Mondays and with the consultant ophthalmologist seeing paediatric patients in the Woman and Children's unit as well as adult patients in the adult ocular motility clinics every month. As well as this, I also assess paediatric patients in South Shore Primary Care Centre every Thursday.

I will be assessing stroke patients both in the outpatient's department and on the stroke ward and will be carrying out visual screening for SEN patients in special schools. I will be undergoing the BIOS clinical tutor training programme to help undergraduate orthoptic students whilst on placement at Blackpool hospital.

David Barras.jpg

I work as an optometrist at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and work together with the orthoptists in the children’s orthoptic clinic. My role is to determine whether a child requires glasses or not as well as checking aspects of the health of the eyes. Glasses and focus correction can play an important part in the development of children’s vision as they grow. My clinics are held on Mondays at Blackpool  and on Thursdays at Fleetwood hospital. I have been part of the team since September 2015

Graham Robinson.jpg

I have worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital for more than 30 years. My role as an optometrist involves testing children’s eyes for glasses. I work closely with the orthoptists in the department on a Tuesday morning. My role is to determine whether a child requires glasses or not.

Karen White.jpg

I started working as an Ophthalmic Technician in the Orthoptic department in May 2017.  My working days are Monday to Thursday.

My role as an Ophthalmic Technician involves undertaking the clinical testing of visual fields, using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser. I also help with administrative duties within the department.

I recently completed the BIOS (British Irish Orthoptic Society) Vision Screening Training Programme, along with my colleague Gail, and achieved the standards of competency in Vision Screening for children aged four to five years. We visit schools in the Lancashire area and perform vision screening tests for Reception children.

gail-swarbrick-e1648720313554.jpg

I started working in the Orthoptic department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in January 2018. My role as an ophthalmic technician involves undertaking the clinical testing of visual fields, using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser. I also assist with the numerous administrative duties within the department. I recently completed the BIOS (British Irish Orthoptic Society) Vision Screening Training Programme, along with my colleague Karen, and achieved the standards of competency in vision screening for children aged four to five years. We visit schools in the Lancashire area and perform vision screening tests for reception children.

Bhawana Vettivel.jpg

I am an orthoptist and I started working at Blackpool hospital in August 2021. I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2021. My role involves working with both adult and paediatric patients at the hospital and in community clinics. During these clinics I work with optometrists and ophthalmologists. I also assess stroke patients both in the outpatient's department and on the stroke ward.

Sarah-Jayne-Hemmins.jpg

I joined the Orthoptic team January 2023.  I have worked in Ophthalmology for 10 years prior to joining the Orthoptic team. My role as an Ophthalmic Technician involves undertaking the clinical testing of visual fields, using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser. I also assist with the numerous administrative duties within the department. I have completed the BIOS (British Irish Orthoptic Society) Vision Screening Training Programme and achieved the standards of competency in Vision Screening for children aged four to five years. I visit schools in the Blackpool area and perform vision screening tests for Reception children.