Optical bodies agree to look at workforce levels

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.