Stakeholders from across the optical sector have joined together to launch a project to gain a clearer picture of today’s optical workforce.
A statement by the groups said that the study came at a time of increasing GOC registrant numbers, coupled with an ageing population and a changing healthcare system.
A survey will launch next month and continue until the end of the year, gathering data from 4,000 ECPs.
Led by the College of Optometrists, the project will gather information about optometrists and dispensing opticians to assess current workforce levels and the issues that will impact on its future.
Michael Bowen, director of research at the College of Optometrists, said: ‘This project represents the biggest cross sector collaboration on workforce data ever.
‘The range of information gathered will build an accurate and up-to-date picture of the optical workforce, which will give us the evidence we need to ensure that decisions affecting the provision of care for future patients is informed by the size, structure and skills base of the current workforce, and predictions for its future development. We would strongly encourage all those invited to complete the questionnaire so the outcomes are based on as large and representative a survey group as possible.’
An advisory group for the project includes The Association of British Dispensing Opticians, the Association of Optometrists, The College of Optometrists, the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, the General Optical Council, the Local Optical Committee Support Unit, the Optometry Schools Council, Optometry Scotland, Optometry Wales and Optometry Northern Ireland.
‘It is more important than ever to gather this evidence, without which it will be impossible to address any question about the current and future requirements for the optometry and optical professions as a workforce,’ a statement added.