Pharmacists in Scotland - five-year integrated education programme: scoping report

Scoping Project

The purpose of the scoping project was to consider and agree a work plan for an integrated five year programme to support the initial education of pharmacists in Scotland through engagement with stakeholders to determine the issues to be addressed and the possible options for integration.

A Scottish Government Pharmacy Initial Education and Training Advisory Group was established to enable initial discussion and provide oversight of initial and on-going progress with the scoping project. It included representation from all key stakeholders including the two Schools of Pharmacy, NES, Scottish Government (workforce), NHS Board Directors of Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy Scotland ( CPS), Royal Pharmaceutical Society ( RPS), and the GPhC (see Appendix 1).

The remit of the Advisory Group was to consider and agree a work plan for an integrated five year programme to support the initial education of pharmacists in Scotland (see Appendix 2). A work plan was prepared and agreed by the Advisory Group (see Appendix 3).

Beyond the Advisory Group, a Stakeholder Engagement Event was organised to permit discussion with a broader range of individuals and organisations, together with meetings with staff and students at both Scottish Schools of Pharmacy. The focus of these events was on the key issues to be addressed and consideration of model options. All stakeholders were invited to consider the key issues and the following three broad options for programme structure:

Option 1: Maintain separate qualifications (4-year MPharm followed by application for 1-year pre-registration training).

Option 2: Move to a linked qualification (4-year MPharm progressing to 1-year pre-registration training).

Option 3: Introduce an integrated qualification (five-year programme with coterminus graduation and registration).