What is the BPSA doing to support our members through the Covid-19 pandemic?

During this uncertain time, we want to acknowledge all the hard work being done across the NHS by our members and wish the best of luck to our student members as they sit their final exams. The BPSA Executive have been working hard, with various stakeholders, to ensure that there is as little disruption to your personal and professional lives as possible. This is an overview of what we have done so far.

Support for all members

The BPSA is utilising our social media platforms to spread light and positivity during what can be scary and unsettling times. Although we couldn’t be with you all physically at our 78th Annual Conference, our Annual Conference organisers took over our social media to give everyone a chance to still celebrate! A particular highlight was being joined by Ash Soni for our virtual Annual Ball. 

We have partnered with Pharmacist Support so that we can ensure all of our members' wellbeing is well cared for during this time. On our social media we have shared regular posts on how you can support your wellbeing and are collecting data, on the challenges our members are experiencing, with the view to help address these in the near future.

Support for our student members

We have released a statement regarding the implementation of non-detriment policies at all Schools of Pharmacy to try to ensure that your degree class cannot be negatively affected by exam results from this period.  This has been received by the GPhC and the Pharmacy Schools Council. We have recieved confirmation from the GPhC that they will allow pharmacy students to be protected by their school's relevant policies. For any students still unsure if they are covered by their university’s policy please feel free to use our statement as evidence to argue your case with your individual schools.  

In partnership with other stakeholders, including HEE and the RPS, we have written guidance to help student volunteers within the sector. For anyone volunteering, or thinking of volunteering, make sure you read this to ensure that you have the correct protection in place. Students who wish to register their interest to be deployed in England should complete the HEE Pharmacy Student Covid-19 Deployment survey. For students already volunteering we ask that you also complete this survey to ensure that your pharmacy schools are aware of where you are so they can offer you the appropriate support.

We are working with HEE to ensure  appropriate contingency planning is made for the Oriel process. The BPSA remains involved in decisions regarding potential changes to the Oriel assessment process to ensure the system remains fair and reasonable for all students. The work for this remains ongoing so keep your eyes on our social media for more updates.

To help you learn remotely we have ensured that you have access to extra online resources. Our EduZone remains on our website, free of charge for all of our members. Use it for handy OTC revision materials. Our friends at Pharmaceutical Press have kindly released their online learning platform, with free access for all pharmacy students via OpenAthens. The platform features detailed information on subjects from pharmacokinetics to pharmacology which may aid your revision. 

Support for our pre-registration members

We continue to advocate on your behalf about concerns surrounding the postponement of your registration exam, and will keep working to ensure that your transition to the provisional register is as smooth as possible. We hosted a webinar on Tuesday 12th May at 7pm alongside the RPS and the GPhC to give you some more clarity, and provide you with an opportunity to have your questions answered.

Following a joint letter from the BPSA and the RPS we are pleased to see that the Home Office has extended the visas of pharmacists , and have received confirmation that this includes pre-registration pharmacists. We are aware of concerns that still surround some individual circumstances, so continue to advocate on your behalf.

How can you help us?

Please continue to share your concerns with us through our dedicated support email, support@bpsa.co.uk, we endeavour to help everyone that we can.

Complete our wellbeing survey to further ensure that you are looked after during this time.