Optometry trade union formed

A trade union representing anyone who is a General Optical Council registrant has been formed by the Ophthalmic Practitioners Group with Prospect Union.

The union said that it has been set up to create an ophthalmic branch to fully represent the profession and views of its members.

It added that details of how to sign up and membership fees would be published soon after it had appointed regional representatives.

The Ophthalmic Practitioners Group said that it was campaigning for a half to the optometry degree apprenticeship, safer testing times, a renegotiation of general ophthalmic services fees and fair pay for employed and self-employed registrants.