View from the AOP: Who’s got your back?

It is a commonly held belief that pressure on the healthcare system and an increasingly litigious society is creating what feels to be a ticking time bomb for professionals working in the sector.

How far individual practitioners should assume responsibility, when a mistake is made, weighed against the extent their employer is liable is a battle still being fought at case level. But for those entering the field of optics, there is a deep sense of accountability – with diligent patient care at the heart of what they do.

The AOP’s 2016 survey into the wellbeing of UK optometrists is a clear indicator of that ethos – with over 50% of respondents reporting they work to tight deadlines and experience higher levels of stress when there is insufficient time. The same group also cited the threat of litigation as a source of stress in the workplace.