Trainees having to pay for placements must not become reality

I was concerned to hear Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, say that some preregistration trainees may in the future need to pay for their placement year. (
The Pharmaceutical Journal, online, 12 November 2015) Undergraduate students already face paying £9,000 per year in tuition fees. Having to pay to complete their preregistration year will mean that they will end up in more debt. Also, this may deter students from poor backgrounds from pursuing a career in pharmacy.

All graduates should be given an opportunity to undertake preregistration placements and be paid because, during the preregistration year, they will be working and making contributions to the workforce and profession.

Since pharmacy student numbers have continued to rise and there are no intentions from the government to control numbers, this has been seen to be inevitable. I would urge those who can influence change to stop this scenario becoming reality.

Chi Huynh

Birmingham