Meet the Team

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.

Suhaylah Bapu

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 Victoria Hospital 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 4-5 years at school. I am responsible for organising, auditing and managing both services.

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.

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

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 Victoria Hospital and on Thursdays at Fleetwood Hospital. I have been part of the team since September 2015

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

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.

Sahar Shahzadi

I completed my Orthoptics degree from The University of Sheffield in 2021 and joined Blackpool Victoria Hospital as a newly qualified Orthoptist in 2022. Since then, I have progressed within my role. I am the BIOS trade union representative for Blackpool, providing assistant and support to my colleague.

Within my current position, I work with both paediatric and adult patients in hospital and community settings. Some of my clinics involve me working with the optometrist and ophthalmologist. Alongside my clinical commitments I am also the Vision Screening Lead for Blackpool where I am responsible for organising, auditing and overseeing the whole service. Furthermore, I provide support to the stroke service, conducting patient assessment in both ward and outpatient clinics.

In my pursuit of professional development, I am preparing to undertake the BIOS Clinical Tutor course. This course will enhance my teaching skills and enable me to support undergraduate Orthoptic students effectively.

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.

Conrad Beacham