Meet the Team

Cath Gray

I am the department’s Head Orthoptist managing the Orthoptic and Optometry services for Blackpool Fylde and Wyre. I have worked at Blackpool Victoria Hospital since 1996 having previously worked in East Lancashire and at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital as a Clinical teacher.

As well as managing the service based at Victoria Hospital, I have clinics on Thursdays at Fleetwood Hospital where I work with our optometrist David Barras offering eye care for the children of North Blackpool and Wyre.

Conrad Beacham

I am the Deputy Head of the 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.

Rebecca Smart

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 (LaVSS).

The LaVSS provides yearly vision tests for 15,000 4- to 5-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

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Suhaylah Bapu

Katherine Sullivan

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

I am the Paediatric Orthoptic Lead and work with Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Aly on Wednesday PM and Friday AM, 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.

Maria Brand

I am the Orthoptic Stoke Service lead. I graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019. My role involves the assessment, diagnosis and management of ocular problems following a stroke. These problems can include visual field defects, visual inattention and cranial nerve palsies, resulting in diplopia. I assess patients in an inpatient setting, on the stroke ward and in an outpatient setting in specialist stroke clinics. I am a qualified clinical tutor for undergraduate orthoptic students.

Iqra Altaf

I am currently the BIOS Trade Union representative for Blackpool and have worked as a Full time Orthoptist for Blackpool Victoria Hospital since February 2020. My current 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 Victoria Hospital.

David Barras

Graham Robinson

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 Wright

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

Yousr Issa

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. Glasses can play an important part in the development of children’s vision. My clinics are held on Thursdays at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. I have been part of the team since January 2021.

Bhawana Vettivel

I am an Orthoptist and I started working at Blackpool Victoria 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.

Sahar Shahzadi

I am an Orthoptist and graduated from The University of Sheffield in 2021. I started working at Blackpool Victoria hospital in 2022 as a newly qualified Orthoptist and now currently as a Specialist Orthoptist. I am also the BIOS trade union representative for Blackpool, where I help and provide assistant to colleagues at work.

My current role consists of working with both paediatric and adult patients of all ages in the hospital and community settings. My paediatric clinics are held at St Anne’s, South Shore and Moor Park. Alongside my clinical commitments I am also the Vision Screening Lead for Blackpool where I organise, audit and oversee the whole service. This service allows 4–5-year-old children to be screened at an early age to prevent reduced vision. I conduct vision screening on Thursdays.

Furthermore, I will soon be doing the BIOS Clinical Tutor course, which will enable me to help undergraduate Orthoptic students by enhancing my teaching skills.

Aneesah Chowdhury

I joined the Orthoptic Department as an Ophthalmic Technician at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in August 2021.

My role as a technician involves carrying out visual field tests, using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyser, on patients referred from the eye clinic and other departments as required. I also assist with administrative duties within the department.

Jay Davies

I am an Orthoptist and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2021. I completed my master’s in clinical sciences before starting at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in January 2023. My current role sees me assessing both adult and paediatric patients within the hospital. I work alongside optometrists and ophthalmologists during these clinics.

Sarah-Jayne Hemmins

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 am currently completing my Vision Screening Training. In this role I will be completing vision screening assessments for children aged four to five years old. Visiting schools in the Blackpool area.