A call to halt the current proposal for optometry degree apprenticeships until the profession’s concerns are addressed has been made by the Association of Optometrists (AOP).
The AOP contacted the trailblazer group, Skills for Health and the Institute for Apprenticeships in January but has received no response.
It highlighted that a degree apprenticeship in pharmacy has been halted twice to allow for proper stakeholder engagement and said optometry deserves the same consideration.
Dr Peter Hampson, clinical director at the AOP, said: ‘There are a range of reasons to oppose the current proposal but above all the risk it poses to patient safety and confidence remains key – we’re very disappointed that these concerns have been met with silence.’