Optometrists are colleague health professionals practicing in similar circumstances to pharmacists. As of November 2019, PDA have been contacted by representatives of the optometrists asking that their efforts to prevent an unsuitable apprenticeship scheme are highlighted to pharmacists.
ACT TODAY TO HELP OPTOMETRISTS
Optometrists are in a sector significantly influenced by a small number of large employers and face many of the same challenges that pharmacists do. Employers have attempted to introduce an apprenticeship scheme for optometrists despite significant objection by the profession.
The PDA lead the successful campaign to stop an earlier proposal for an unsuitable apprenticeship scheme for pharmacists, however, a group of employers are still working on a new proposal. We know that the suggestion that community pharmacy multiple branches are an appropriate environment for a health professional to be developed through an apprenticeship is a fantasy, and need to inform those who decide on potential apprenticeships of the reality in such places.
Many of the arguments against the previous pharmacist proposal, will also apply to the current proposal for optometrists and optometrist colleagues have asked for support in challenging the proposals impacting their profession.
Despite the incredibly short consultation timeframe, the PDA will be submitting a response. The PDA also invite pharmacists to respond individually before the closing date, which is Tuesday 16th November 2021 (i.e. tomorrow).
DOWNLOAD the optometrist apprenticeShip PROposal
Links relating to optometrists
- Optometrists see eye to eye with Pharmacists as the two health professions face similar proposals
- PDA inspire new ophthalmic trade union
links relating to pharmacist apprenticeship
- Pharmacists apprenticeship development has been “paused” – DECEMBER 2019
- New proposals on pharmacist apprenticeship
- The questions answered about apprenticeships have raised even more serious concerns
- Apprenticeship proposal fails first test
- Responses from the Apprenticeship meeting
- Outcome of Pharmacist Apprenticeship Meeting
- Update on Pharmacist Apprenticeship Proposal
- PDA to convene meeting on apprenticeship proposal
- PDA facilitated large-scale response to unexpected pharmacist apprenticeship proposal, now we need to have questions answered
- PDA asks pharmacists to reject surprise pharmacist apprenticeship proposals