In focus: Optometry apprenticeships: The sector responds

A band of influential practitioners from the UK and beyond has written an open letter to Optician and the wider optical profession outlining its stance against a proposed apprenticeship scheme for optometry.

In the letter, the group stated the new apprenticeship was a risk to public health and standards of practice. It pointed towards ‘overwhelming rejection from the wider optometric community,’ demonstrated by a change.org petition with more than 11,000 signatures and the creation of the Ophthalmic Practitioners Group, which now has over 500 members and has itself written to the General Optical Council and the College of Optometrists.

The signatories urged the profession to voice its opinions before the consultation deadline on December 9. The consultation can be found at https://bit.ly/ 37YMnt7.

Dear Optician,
We the undersigned would like to present our beliefs about the current situation and our views about the proposed apprenticeship ‘degree’ in optometry.