The University of Bath MPharm pharmacy course “will also be delivered at the University of Plymouth” from September 2024, the University of Plymouth announced this week (January 2).
It said that the “two leading universities are joining forces to address the urgent need for more pharmacists”.
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Plymouth University’s website revealed that students will be taught by “Plymouth-based University of Bath academic and practice staff”.
“After four years of living and learning in Plymouth, you’ll graduate with a University of Bath degree”, it added.
Plymouth University told C+D yesterday that the course will aim to start with 25 students a year before building gradually to a cohort size of 40.
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It added that students will need to meet the University of Bath’s requirements to be considered. Bath University’s “typical offer” is AAB in three A levels “including chemistry and one other science or mathematics subject”, according to its website.
The new course “provides the opportunity to live and study in the vibrant and unique surroundings of Plymouth” and will be delivered “with NHS England and many local stakeholders”, Plymouth University said.
“Tremendously positive”
University of Bath pro-vice-chancellor Professor Julian Chaudhuri said that the university is “delighted to work with the University of Plymouth”.
He added that the collaboration would “increase the number of pharmacy graduates in the South West, significantly contributing to healthcare within the region”.
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University of Plymouth deputy vice chancellor John Curnow said he was “excited to be part of this partnership”, which “will make a tremendously positive difference…in our region and beyond”.
He added that students will learn in “new practice-based and clinical teaching spaces” with “consultation rooms and simulation equipment”.
Boosting pharmacy training places
The University of Plymouth’s announcement stressed that “there is a particular shortage” of pharmacists in the South West.
The region has “the highest community pharmacy vacancy rate in England at 14% versus 8% nationally”, it added.
The new school is set to contribute to the planned 29% increase in pharmacist training places in England by 2028/29 announced as part of the NHS long term workforce plan released in June.
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The plan set out to boost the number of pharmacist training places to 4,307 by 2028, a 29% increase from the 3,339 training places available for trainee pharmacists in 2022.
By 2031, the number of training places available is planned to be 4,970, it said.
At the time, the plan was welcomed as a “proactive approach” by some pharmacy leaders but others warned that it would “only deepen” the workforce crisis facing community pharmacy and said it was “another kick in the teeth” for the sector.
Meanwhile, C+D revealed in November that a new pharmacy school is also set to open at Teesside University from 2025.
