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Applying for pre-reg

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By Emma Bolton

16 Mar 2012

I thought I'd just write a little blog about my experiences so far with applying for pre-reg places. Halfway through my third year feels very early to be applying for a job I won't start for 18 months, but nevertheless I have been thoroughly researching my options and discussing it in detail with...well, anyone who'll listen really! It's not just about a job, or hospital or community, it's about deciding where you'll live and how you'll start your working life. Basically, it feels like a huge decision and my first grown-up choice...a much bigger deal than choosing which university to go to somehow!

I was looking to apply to hospital and community, but this seems tricky to do. At a recent pre-reg fair I spoke to many of the main community employers in the area, and they all said that if I was offered a place I'd be expected to accept it in August, with interviews being held in June or July. However, the hospital aren't even holding their interviews until September - this means holding out for a hospital place could be risky, and if you don't get a hospital place then you could end up without any of your first choice pre-regs.

I do think it would be much fairer and easier if there was a way that this could be made better - for example, a single deadline for the student to accept any offers by and then a "clearing" system like UCAS, or if the community pharmacies and hospital pharmacies could work to the same timetable. We have been told to apply for as many pre-regs as possible, but if you really want to work in hospital pharmacy then there doesn't seem to be much point in applying for a lot of community places as you'll have to turn them down before you've even had your hospital interview. There's a lot to think about! So what with all this to consider, not to mention the visa issues for international students, coursework deadlines and exam time looming this term is a little stressful and has a lot riding on it - I can't wait for a rest before my placement starts this Summer!

Sat, 17/03/2012 - 21:08 – mark france

I agree Emma,

This is an unfair situation, and it is something that affected a lot of my peers last year when applying for pre-reg. In a few weeks I am attending the annual BPSA conference, this is the ideal place to raise this issue. I would suggest that if anyone from your university is attending (or if you are!) then ask them to open this for debate. If not then I would be glad to raise this on your behalf. Regards Mark France 4th year, University of Huddersfield.

Mon, 19/03/2012 - 11:15 – Rukeya Begum

Reply

I agree, it's completely unfair. I know people who held onto the community places anyway and rejected them after they got a hospital placement. I have heard that it looks bad if you do that but they can't do anything about it.

In a way I was lucky enough to get rejected by all of the big chain community pharmacies that I applied to and was accepted by several hospitals instead, if I was accepted by any of the community pharmacies I don't know what I would have done!

Tue, 20/03/2012 - 10:55 – Helen Middleton

There will be guidance on accepting or rejecting pre-reg offers

The NHS and community pharmacy multiples have recently discussed timetables for recruiting into pre-registration trainee pharmacist posts at a meeting hosted by the Company Chemists Association (CCA). The NHS was keen to return to a situation where there was an agreed deadline for all employers for accepting or rejecting a pre-registration offer, but community pharmacy multiples felt that this was impractical.

The NHS will continue to have a recruitment timetable for all hospitals in England and Wales and an NHS deadline for accepting or rejecting offers which will be 05 October 2012.

Each community pharmacy company will set their own recruitment timetables for application, interview, writing offer letters, and a deadline for accepting an offer.

We appreciate that this causes a dilemma for students if they prefer to work in hospital because the hospital interviews take place later in the year than community pharmacy interviews. Hospital is unable to bring it's recruitment forward to earlier in the year as the number of comissioned places is not known until later summer.

The NHS and CCA are keen to work to alleviate any perceptions of pressure on students to accept offers early, and will be meeting in April to discuss jointly developing guidance for students to address any concerns and give advice on how to accept/reject offers professionally. I would hope that the BPSA can also contribute to the developemnt of these guidelines. Students will be able to accept an offer and decline the offer at a later date if they get another offer from a preferred employer, and the student would be expected to decline at the earliest possible opportunity.

Helen Middleton

NHS Pre-reg Recruitment Scheme Lead (England & Wales)

Tue, 20/03/2012 - 14:19 – Ryan Hamilton

Raising your concerns on a national level...

Hi Emma,

The BPSA became aware of this situation last year when a number of concerned students and also pharmacists contacted us. This has been on our agenda for the past few months and we're working closely with the NHS and will be engaging with community employers to arrive at the best solution for all.

As Helen Middleton said above the BPSA will be looking at producing guidance for students on how to reject prereg offers if necessary. It is my aim to get this guidance endorsed by both the NHS and CCA.

I would encourage you to get in touch with those you know who are attending the BPSA Annual Conference this April as Mark France has suggested. Our Conference is where all our policies are formed, and it is these policies we use to represent students and trainees. The Conference has its own website and facebook page. You can contact delegates through the Conference Facebook page and start discussions there.

There are a number of community pharmacy employers and organisations that represent the community sector attending various parts of our conference so there will be plenty of opportunities for delegates to raise these concerns.

I hope that alleviates some of your concerns. I know how stressful it is to be studying whilst applying for preregistration training places. My advice would be to focus on where you want to work within the UK as you will be working there for a whole year. Good Luck!

Kind Regards

Ryan Hamilton MRPharmS

BPSA President 2011-2012

Wed, 21/03/2012 - 15:53 – Emma Bolton

Thank you for your replies!

I feel much better about the issue now, I am pleased that it is something people are aware of and are hoping to sort out! I am attending the conference in April and will certainly bring this up as it has been a major headache for a few weeks. Personally, I can see much more clearly now what I need to do and where I stand when it comes to accepting and declining offers.

I've been told pharmacy is a small world and you don't really want to upset anyone but at the end of the day you have to do what's right for you, take the offer you really want and not worry about upsetting a company. I hope anyone else with the same concerns finds the replies to this to read - if not I will do a follow up blog during/after the conference!