View from the AOP: Ensuring the needs of locums are met is key

A key shift for optometrists, over the past decade, is the trend towards self-employment.

The College of Optometrists’ 2015 Optical Workforce Survey showed a substantial increase in the proportion of optometrists working as locums – 17.5% in 2015 compared to 10.5% in 2010.

The percentage of optometrists embracing self-employment is even larger within the Association of Optometrists’ (AOP) membership, with 35% of members listing themselves as locums in 2017.

A big driver for most is naturally the desire to work flexibly. In our recent survey into the health and wellbeing of UK optometrists, many spoke about having less stress and pressure as the motivation behind their career choice.