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RPS: More details about pharmacy apprenticeship needed
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The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has written to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IATE) to ask for more details and greater transparency around its proposals to introduce a five-year pharmacy apprenticeship scheme.
The day after the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) wrote to IATE urging it to hold a more detailed and longer consultation than the 10-day one it carried out on the plans, the RPS told the Institute that its members had expressed “considerable concern” about a lack of detail around the apprenticeship.
In a letter to IATE, Gail Fleming, director of education and professional development at the RPS, said there was concern about how the apprenticeship would sit alongside the current pharmacy degree and pre-registration exam and how those who take up the apprenticeship will be protected from exploitation by employers.
There were also concerns about the timing of the apprenticeship’s introduction given the GPhC is keen to press ahead with its initial education and training standards.
“In light of the significant reservations expressed by our members, the (IATE) and trailblazer group must provide further details that will enable our members to better understand the deliberations that have taken place to date,” Fleming wrote.
“This will allow the profession to take an informed view rather than be reliant on speculation. Without this level of transparency and detail, we are unable to engage in an informed debate with our membership.
“We would also like to draw attention to the wording within the proposal which says that the professional leadership body was consulted.
“This has been misunderstood by some organisations to mean that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has commented or contributed to the development of the proposal. We would like to confirm that this is not the case.”