Quality management feasibility study for the preregistration scheme
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is to carry out a quality management feasibility study for its preregistration scheme.
A proposal from the Education Committee was agreed at the June
Council meeting. The meeting was advised that providing a quality assurance scheme
for the preregistration year was an obligation under the Pharmacists
and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007 and that primary care trusts (PCTs)
and strategic health authorities (SHAs) were taking an interest.
Presenting the proposal, Graham Phillips said there were three possible
approaches. One of these was a centralised scheme run entirely by the
Society, which would have the advantage of centralised control and the
disadvantages of that in terms of cost and local engagement. Another
approach, at the other extreme, would be a scheme run entirety by PCTs
and SHAs, which might be too distant from the Society and not meet its
obligations under the Order.
A third way was a quality managed scheme run through a partner body such
as a deanery with Society oversight. That was the Education Committee’s
preferred option for the basis of a pilot study. It controlled costs
and met the Society’s obligations. A deanery was an existing infrastructure
delivering quality management and quality assurance in education. The
committee recommended the West Midlands Deanery as partner because of
its enthusiasm and its desire to be involved. It already had a pharmacy
input and it had a proven track record in training doctors.
The Council agreed to set up a steering group with representation from
the Society, the deanery, local employers and local schools of pharmacy.
The plan was to commence the pilot in January 2008.
During discussion on the proposal, John Jolley raised the issue of preregistration
training for pharmacists in the industry. Preregistration training could
only be carried out through community or hospital practice, and this
had resulted in a significant reduction in numbers of industrial pharmacists.
He urged the Council to look for a way to
devise appropriate preregistration training for industrial pharmacy,
Sue Kilby, supporting Mr Jolley, said that the West Midlands was an area
that had no industrial pharmacists. Once the pilot scheme was expanded
to cover other areas, it needed to involve preregistration tutors within
the industry.
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Pharmaceutical Journal