Pharmacy schools must “reflect” on how students are affected by failing the degree, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has said in response to criticism of lowered entry standards.

The Guild of Healthcare Professionals (GHP), part of trade union Unite, attacked “cash-hungry” universities for producing a “conveyor belt of students, many of whom fail at the final hurdle". The GHP blames “variable standards” at universities for the lowest June registration exam pass rate in six years, it said on Wednesday (August  12).

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin responded to the GHP’s statement by stressing that universities – as well as representative bodies, “relevant government agencies” and itself – should “reflect on the considerable impact on individual students if they fail at any point during the five years of education and training”.

The regulator will “closely monitor university clearing”, Mr Rudkin said yesterday (August 13).

The GHP pointed to information it obtained by freedom of information (FOI) requests to 22 universities in England and Wales, which it claimed show a “clear association “ between lower entry criteria and lower registration exam pass rates.

The guild is concerned that students who fail the registration exam on their first attempt are left “facing thousands of pounds of student debt after five years of study”. It called for a “national debate” about the “financial imperatives” it believes are “driving universities’ entry policies”, as well as “the need to maintain the highest professional standards” across the sector.

Former GHP president David Miller, who led the FOI inquiry, said he “feels for individual students who seek a caring vocational career” and are “given false expectations of professional employment by certain course providers”.

“Very important debate”

Head of Bradford school of pharmacy Marcus Rattray told C+D that the debate over the standard of pharmacy graduates is “a very important one” and he is “pleased that all in the sector are taking an interest”.

Bradford School of Pharmacy admits students on an “individual basis” and takes care not to give them “false expectations”, Professor Rattray stressed. “We know of no evidence to suggest that the standard of our graduates is slipping,” he added.

Mr Rudkin said the GPhC will be “seeking views on the right regulatory approach” to universities’ entry standards, as part of its review on initial education and training standards.

Last month (July 17), the regulator criticised the University of Central Lancashire for dropping its standards by as much as four A-level grade points to allow some students onto the course in September 2014.
 

How could lower student entry requirements affect pharmacy?

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