The Scottish optometry workforce is young and predominantly female, according to research published in Eye.
The research, which was led by optometrist, Dr Helen Court, found that more than half of optometrists in Scotland are under the age of 40, 66% are female and 27% have independent prescribing (IP) qualifications.
Speaking with OT, Court highlighted that the research aimed to explore the sustainability of the optometric workforce within Scotland.
“There are increasing pressures within the hospital eye service, which is leading to increased waiting times,” she said.
“If community optometrists are going to be utilised to provide additional ophthalmic capacity across the UK, then there is a vital and pressing need to ensure that we have ongoing sustainability of the community optometrist workforce,” Court observed.
The ophthalmic programme manager at NHS Scotland’s Centre for Sustainable Delivery outlined four key trends that came through from the research.
Court shared that there is a growing community optometrist workforce within Scotland, with a 4.5% increase in the total optometrist workforce between 2019 and 2023.
“That is reflected in increased eye examination activity data,” she said.
She highlighted that the optometry workforce is predominantly young and female, which is in contrast to the older demographics of the hospital eye service.
Court shared that there was a 57% increase in the number of optometrists with an IP qualification between 2019 and 2023. One in four optometrists in Scotland are now IP-qualified.
“What is striking about that is that the IP qualification is non-mandatory. That does really reflect the substantial commitment and adaptability within the workforce to pursue higher levels of patient management,” Court emphasised.
Court added that after an initial shift to part-time working after the pandemic, working patterns appear to be stabilising.
Around one in three optometrists in Scotland deliver eye examinations five or more days per week.
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