The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has withheld accreditation from the master of pharmacy degree course at Liverpool John Moores university (LJMU) that is due to start in September.
Students returning to the university for the second, third or fourth years of their course will not be affected by the ruling. However, students who start the course this year could have to take additional examinations or assessments before being allowed to commence preregistration training. The Society could charge for these assessments.
In a statement issued on August 8, the head of the Society's education division (Dr Robert Dewdney) said: "It is regrettable, particularly for new students, that the degree accreditation exercise we began last autumn, and which has consumed much effort since, has not reached a satisfactory conclusion."
The Society is to have a meeting with the recently appointed vice-chancellor and the relevant head of faculty at LJMU. Dr Dewdney went on: "At this stage, ahead of our meeting on August 15, it would not be helpful for me to rehearse in public the Society's concerns. It can though be said that they centre on one or more of our specific criteria for degree accreditation."
The Society informed the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) some weeks ago of the lack of accreditation of a pharmacy degree course for new entrants. The UCAS was informed on August 4 of the identity of the university. At the same time, the Society published a statement on its website (www.rpsgb.org.uk).
The results of A-level examinations are to be published on August 17. The results are given to the UCAS and universities three or four days in advance of publication to allow the confirmation of offers of places to be processed. Applicants who meet the conditions of an offer are committed to it and it is unlikely that there would be much chance of finding a place at any other school of pharmacy.
"We at the Society, the UCAS and, no doubt, the university are preparing to deal with inquiries from anxious parents and students. The best source of the reassurance that these people will be seeking is the university. I believe - but cannot guarantee - that it will signal its commitment to come into line with the Society's requirements as soon as possible," Dr Dewdney said.
LJMU has issued three contacts for inquiries. These are Dr Terry Nolan (deputy director, school of pharmacy) on 0151 231 2193, Dr Peter Elliott (admissions tutor) on 0151 231 2097 and Miss Jackie Hughes (admissions officer) on 0151 231 2258.
Senior staff at the Liverpool school of pharmacy did not respond to calls made by The Journal before it went to press.
In a letter sent to students applying to study pharmacy, the university's vice-chancellor (Professor Peter Toyne) said: "It is my genuine belief that accreditation will be achieved and while we are notifying, informally, all applying students of the situation, I do not think that any student should be unduly concerned."
The British Pharmaceutical Students Association has expressed its concern about the timing of the announcements. Mr Noel Wicks (president, BPSA) told The Journal on August 8: "The BPSA is concerned that prospective pharmacy students will feel let down, mainly by the university, but also by the profession, for the timing of this announcement. These students are now left with a few short weeks in which to organise the rest of their futures.
"The BPSA hopes that the university is doing all that it can to help with this process. Current pharmacy students at LJMU should also be informed without delay as to their positions."
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