Update on pre-registration training and the registration assessment

Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said:

“We know that pre-registration trainees are working extremely hard in very challenging circumstances to help the pharmacy team and patients and the public. We would like to thank everyone for their significant contribution. 

“We understand that pre-registration trainees and tutors have questions and concerns about the registration assessment and whether this will be going ahead. Please be assured we are working hard, in collaboration with student representative bodies, employers, universities and others to make decisions that are fair to trainees, preserve the integrity of the register and which recognise the significant pressures that community pharmacies and hospitals are under now and in the months to come. Before making any final decisions, we need to ensure we have considered fully the implications.

 “We will provide updates as soon as we possibly can and we expect to be able to give a further update early next week. We fully appreciate this is a very difficult time for all pre-registration trainees and tutors. We would encourage everyone to try as far as possible not to worry about what may happen with the registration assessment and to focus on the important role they are playing in supporting patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We fully understand that during the pandemic pre-registration trainees will often not be able to follow training plans and complete the weekly activities and objectives within their plans.  We also understand that pre-registration trainees may be working in a different location or being supervised by staff and healthcare professionals other than their tutor. We would encourage tutors to take a flexible and proportionate approach in relation to training plans. We would also highlight the recent joint guidance  [PDF 182 KB]  issued by Health Education England, Heath Education and Improvement Wales, and NHS Education Scotland which may help tutors to support trainees.”