Time to reflect

The recent flurry of commercial and legislative change must surely be followed by a period of consolidation and reflection. Not least for the sanity of this year's intake of new people.

Few practitioners can not have been affected by the many changes that have touched every element of optometric life, from registration to retirement.

While practitioners have rightly been concerned about the issues that impact them directly, as the academic year draws to a close it is important to remember those entering the profession.

Not only have these young people had to go through the rigours of the university system - without a grant, some have also been test-driving the latest routes to registration.

This year's cohort of graduates chose a career in optometry four years ago, and how much has changed.

They enter a profession short of pre-reg places, one that requires immediate participation in CET and one in which they must be on a local primary care trust list to receive pay for the services they provide. They enter at a time of falling salary levels and tough competition.

Having graduated, many must now be wondering what future their chosen profession holds. optician would argue that all of the recent change and pressure must lead to the development of opportunities, opportunities that must be explained and opened up to those newcomers to the profession.

It is not always easy to embrace change and look to the opportunities. But your attitude as employers and mentors is crucial. Your take on those many changes will shape the attitudes of the new intake.

Ultimately that means their commitment to the profession and its future.