Chris Bennett: Are quality and quantity mutually exclusive?

How many optometrists should be coming out of university each year and is too many a bad thing?

Last week’s emerging detail on the University of Western England’s optometry course will have caused a flurry of ire on the optometry chatrooms. The usual objection to yet another optometry course is both selfish and high-minded.

From a purely selfish point of view more optometrists mean lower salaries with the blame put on the GOC, the College and the AOP for allowing such a state of affairs to arise. Uncharacteristically, I will defend those organisations as it is not within their gift to manage the flow of professionals into the profession. If the course is good enough it will get GOC approval.