Students are concerned about the number of preregistration and summer work placements available and lack of support in sourcing them
Pharmacy students are under mounting pressure when it comes to debt, competition for jobs and preregistration placement opportunities, research has revealed. Kate Westbrook explains
An independent survey conducted among 41 of the participants in the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association’s annual conference in 2009 found that over 40 per cent of respondents in England and Wales have concerns about the number of preregistration and summer work placements available and the lack of support in sourcing them.
Other areas of concern for students entering the profession are workplace pressure and stress (36 per cent), salary and juggling finances (21 per cent). This leaves many feeling concerned for their futures and ill-prepared for the large responsibility a career in pharmacy entails.
The survey was carried out by Pharmacist Support, an independent welfare charity for pharmacists, preregistration trainees and pharmacy students.
These findings come as the Government announces cuts to university funding and the university admissions service releases figures showing an increasing pressure on places for courses starting in the autumn. These statistics show that applications for UK universities have risen by 23 per cent compared with last year. Applications for pharmacy, pharmacology and toxicology degrees are up by 15.6 per cent.
Changes to immigration rules have also affected international pharmacy students, with many voicing concerns that they may not be able to start their preregistration year. Research undertaken by the BPSA (in 2009) suggests that this will affect approximately 15 per cent of the UK’s student pharmacy population who are non-EU overseas students.
Testament to these findings is the number of calls that the charity has seen to its helpline. In 2009, 36 per cent of all calls received were from students or preregistration trainees.
Pharmacist Support seeks to invest in the future of pharmacy. As such, the charity offers a stress helpline, addiction support and an array of specialist advice services offering guidance on debt, benefits and employment, as well as grants and financial assistance to pharmacy students facing particular hardship.
Diane Leicester, manager of Pharmacist Support, comments: “The tough economic climate, coupled with the pharmacy world undergoing possibly the biggest upheaval in its history, is impacting heavily upon our future pharmacists. Young pharmacists are crucial to the profession and, at Pharmacist Support, we are committed to providing the necessary help and support to students and preregistration trainees through any difficult times they may face.”
Pharmacist Support continues to develop its range of services to meet the needs of the modern, 21st century pharmacist and, this year, plans to carry out further research into the specific needs of pharmacy students and preregistration trainees.
To find out more about the free and confidential support and guidance Pharmacist Support can provide pharmacy students, please visit www.pharmacistsupport.org, or contact the support team (tel 0808 168 2233; e-mail info@pharmacistsupport.org). Alternatively, to speak confidentially with a Listening Friend, contact the stress helpline (tel 0808 168 5133) or a specialist addiction adviser (tel 0808 168 5132).
[Tomorrow's Pharmacist would like to hear from students what kind of support they would like to help secure summer or preregistration placements. Please e-mail tomorrowspharmacist@pjonline.com]
“The financial assistance helped alleviate much stress and enabled me to focus on my studies"
"It saved my family and I from being homeless and enabled me to focus on my prereg exams and complete my training. The service received from Pharmacist Support will always be remembered as a divine intervention in my life and I am forever grateful"
"I had never thought I would fail the exam as I have a strong academic background. However I learnt my lesson, picked myself up and with the financial support I received from Pharmacist Support, passed my second attempt and am now a qualified pharmacist. Thank you so much"
"As they say, you never think it will happen to you. Thanks to the help I received, I can pay my mortgage and will not be homeless. I had no one else except Pharmacist Support to turn to and they have been a magnificent support."
Kate Westbrook is development officer at Pharmacist Support
