Bob and ClaireWe are Bob and Claire Thomas-Carter and have been in business as a husband and wife team since 1994.  We took our first steps into practice management in 2007, taking over the long established practice at 4 Station Road in Urmston.

Claire is responsible for the clinical side of the business.  A natural communicator, with a real interest in both her profession and our patients.  Claire graduated in Optics in 1991 and completed her professional exams the following year.  A firm believer in continuous learning she completed a post graduate degree in 1998 and has since developed specialisms in Diabetic Retinopathy and Cataract Screening.

Bob, an accountant by training, is responsible for the behind the scenes running of the business, leaving Claire free to focus on patient care.  Bob is currently chairman of the Urmston Partnership (town centre management group).

We have three primary/ secondary age children to keep us busy away from work.

Joanne is our practice manager and has worked in optics for over 10 years. Joanne joined us 5 years ago and has been a huge asset to the practice as she is a natural communicator and reflects on her counselling background to establish a firm rapport with our patients.

Louise is our dispensing optician and recently joined our practice in May 2011. Louise has 8 years optical experience and qualified as a dispensing optician in 2008 after 3 years of studying. Louise currently works 4 days per week and spends the remaining days of the week looking after her little boy.

Lynn, our optical adviser has many years experience within the optical industry. After joining our practice in 2009 Lynn has had a positive impact and can rarely be seen without a smile on her face.

Sue the most recent addition to the team started in July 2011. Sue works 2 days per week and helps out on reception, with no previous optical experience Sue has made a great impact on the team and improves the working dynamics of our small group.

We also have 3 locum staff members; Adele a dispensing optician who currently works one day per week for us. Adele has many years experience in optics and has been working for us since 2007, she qualified as a dispensing optician in 1999. Since Adele started working for us when we opened as Thomas Carter Opticians, she has become a firm member of the ‘family’. 

Ashley, our most recent addition to the team is a dispensing optician working one day per week. He is our only male influence within the practice (asides from Bob) and he takes on this role well!

 Our other member of staff is Alannah, an optometrist who covers for when Claire has her day off. Alannah has plenty of experience and completes very thorough eye examinations. Joining us in early 2010 she has already established a solid patient fan base!