From Mr J. L. Potter, MRPharmS
SIR,—After reading your recent correspondence, I cannot help expressing my support for "A Pharmacy Graduate" and those in a similar position (PJ, January 29, p183).
Whatever the niceties of the situation, there is no way that it can be right that a well educated young person, who has spent at least 11 years in studies leading to a profession, should be banned for life from practising that profession simply because of three unsuccessful attempts at an examination which did not even exist seven years ago.
We keep hearing of problems caused by the absence of a new influx of pharmacists during the "fallow year". Surely, this gap would be well stopped if the preregistration examination were re-opened to all past graduates, regardless of how many times they may have to take the examination, this time taking steps to ensure that no competent applicant fails.
As to the future, if any further assessment after graduation is necessary at all, then I suggest it would be far better done by assignments rather than examination. If every preregistration trainee were required, during his or her year's training, to supply, say, three assignments on various aspects of present day pharmacy, that would demonstrate understanding of what has been learned far more effectively than an examination. Furthermore, trainees would be able to get through the year without worry about bad luck with the questions causing them to lose a year or more of their career.
J. L. Potter
Manchester