Independent pharmacies could be deterred from offering pre-reg placements if plans to overhaul pharmacy degrees are not implemented with care, virtual chain Numark has told C+D. The NHS Modernising Pharmacy Careers programme has proposed a five-year course with employers taking more responsibility for pharmacy training and the pre-reg year being replaced by two six-month placements worked in years four and five.

Mimi Lau, director of professional services at Numark, warned: "I hope that any associated administration with the change is kept to a minimum as I wouldn't want to deter independents from offering pre-reg placements."

Ms Lau backed training in the dispensary, saying: "Whilst the pharmacy degree equips students with the technical knowledge to be a pharmacist, only by applying that knowledge and using it in real-life situations can pre-regs develop the skills to work in community pharmacy."

The proposal to overhaul pharmacy education has been backed by the RPS, which said it welcomed the opportunity to reform undergraduate education. "As a professional body we would want to ensure reform seeks to ensure pharmaceutical science and clinical practice are well balanced and that the educational models support the ambitions of such reform," director of professional development and support Catherine Duggan said.