An industry-wide campaign is urgently needed to raise the number and quality of applicants to optometry and dispensing courses, a meeting at London's City University heard this week.
Speaking for the British Universities Committee of Optometry (BUCO), Professor David Thomson told an invited audience of employers, professional representatives, university staff and students that the number of applicants to UK optometry courses had 'declined dramatically' and was now half what it was in the mid-90s while the number of places had almost doubled, making it difficult to recruit high-quality students.
'We're very close to the stage where we're going to have to accept virtually everyone who applies,' said Professor Thomson.
A-level grade inflation had made it difficult to quantify true academic ability and many school leavers seemed less prepared for higher education. Salaries in some parts of the country had declined and might have put applicants off.
A wider problem was the lack of awareness of optometry as an option among teenagers, teachers, parents and careers advisers. 'Optometry and optics really just don't figure on the radar when choosing careers and we have to do something about that.' Professor Thomson called for a 'concerted and coordinated campaign' by the professional bodies, universities and employers to promote optometry and optics, a review of university entry requirements and selection procedures, and funding for graduates to study optometry as their second degree.
Louise Iredale, head of graduate recruitment at Specsavers, said there was 'an absolute need' to raise awareness of optometry in schools but a major challenge to employers was geographical. Students now tended to go to their local universities and remained close to those cities on graduation. Student debt, cultural issues and family ties played a part in their lack of mobility. 'We need great optometrists around the UK, not just localised around the universities,' she argued.
Head of professional resources at Boots Opticians Richard Edwards agreed: 'Where we don't need people we've got far too many and in other areas we've got none.'
For the College of Optometrists, Ian Humphreys outlined the potential costs of a joint campaign to raise awareness of optometry and optics as a career choice. The estimated initial set-up cost was around £50k plus £150k for a national roll-out by region, followed by possible annual expenditure of £100k to keep the programme running.
Professor Thomson will now convene a working group from those attending to report back as consultation moves forward.