The PDA’s response to the consultation included several tables which were compiled using the GPhC’s own data to show the consistent variations in the pharmacist registration exam pass rate between sectors, the ethnicity attainment gaps (in the registration exam), and the variation between cohorts from different schools of pharmacies.
The PDA was also concerned that the consultation proposed to increase the interval between accreditation events that are undertaken by the GPhC and that many of the other proposals, such as additional accreditation events and sharing of data were already taking place.
The PDA’s response also identified the lack of any standardised and independently set assessment for pharmacy technicians and the importance of using the appropriate terminology to describe trainee pharmacy technicians.
In the response, the PDA also highlighted that although the GPhC has considerable amounts of MPharm student data, there seems to have been missed opportunities to use this data to improve student outcomes for both the MPharm (the ethnicity attainment gap still persists) and registration exam (where multiple attainment gaps persist).
The PDA was especially concerned that the GPhC did not include any equality assessments for its proposals, which are important as they could have a considerable impact on those with protected characteristics.
Read the full PDA submission
Read the GPhC consultation
Read the 2016-2017 student dataset published by the GPhC
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