Staff training

One cannot do better, in this regard, than point out that the first impression of an optical practice is normally gained, not from a highly qualified professional, but from a receptionist. In the circumstances, while recognising that most firms have their own training programmes, the proposed establishment of a distance-learning course for assistants at Anglia Polytechnic University signifies an important step in improving the quality of clinical assistants. Training is, however, one thing: formal registration is something very different. Any attempt to draw comparisons with dental assistants in this regard (optician, Outlook, April 17) is surely unreal by virtue of their totally differing roles. We have also to recognise that such registration would doubtless spawn its own expensive bureaucracy, for which someone would have to pay. Additionally to be borne in mind is the certainty that optical employers would continue to employ non-opticians in a variety of ways, irrespective of any new registration system which might be introduced for such workers. Registered status for ancillary workers could also be relied upon to mean employers face higher wage bills for registered assistants. At the end of the day we have to recognise that the particular issue is concerned with improving training for support staff, rather than seeking to add another tier to an already status-conscious profession.