Apprenticeships: Meeting a need or risking patient safety?

The degree apprenticeship for optometry proposed by a trailblazer group has led to misinformation, hysteria and a drop in confidence in the profession, according to the Ophthalmic Practitioners’ Group (OPG).

The group of optometrists and dispensing opticians, which was formed following public safety concerns about the apprenticeship, has expressed its disappointment in a response to the trailblazer group’s chair Victoria Unsworth.

Unsworth, who is also professional learning and development manager at Vision Express, has provided the OPG with further insight into the proposal.

The OPG explained that all of its suggestions for further investigation and the questions it has raised should have been addressed by the trailblazer group during the proposal.