GPhC responds to Unite/GHP information on university clearing system

Commenting on information obtained by Unite and the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists in relation to the average and median entry A-levels and uptake via the university clearing system, Duncan Rudkin, Chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:

 

“Our work is all about upholding standards and public trust in pharmacy. So it’s central to our role that only candidates who have successfully demonstrated that they have the knowledge and skills to take on the responsibilities of a pharmacist safely can join the register.  We do this by setting standards for initial education and training, accrediting MPharm courses and holding a national registration assessment that all trainees must pass before joining the register.  In this way registration standards are maintained in the public interest, whatever else may be happening ‘upstream’, beginning with student recruitment and selection.

 

“All parts of the system, including the universities involved, student and professional leaders and representative bodies, as well as the regulator and the relevant government agencies, need to reflect on the considerable impact on individual students if they fail at any point during the five years of education and training.

 

“Entry requirements are one of a number of important factors that the GPhC considers when accrediting or re-accrediting pharmacy education providers. Entry requirement issues are being considered as part of our wider review of our standards of initial education and training and we will be seeking views on the right regulatory approach.”