Msc Clinical Pharmacy (community)

[Tesh]

Hi everyone! I'm a final year student and hopefully will qualify this summer. I have two questions:

1) Is the Msc Clinical Pharmacy worth doing straight away?

2) Will Boots pay for it?

[Rafael]

Hi everyone! I'm a final year student and hopefully will qualify this summer. I have two questions:

1) Is the Msc Clinical Pharmacy worth doing straight away?

2) Will Boots pay for it?

Hey Tesh

1- why Msc? you need 2-3 years to complete Msc, it might be worth to do PHD( 3 years) or become independent prescriber( less than a year).

2- No, maybe in few years time after you work for them, but do not expect anything before 1-2 years of practicing. to be honest, i will not fund an Msc for a pre-reg/recently qualified pharmacist who never worked(contributed to my business) and i am not sure of his/her potentials. so the simple answer is NO.
if you work in a hospital, they will find your diploma while you work for them.

[Tesh]

Thanks for your reply Raoul.

Reasons behind doing it is mainly professional development. I wanted to go the hospital route and do a diploma but due to financial obligations I've decided to pursue the community route and would like to be able to do the job to the best of my ability whilst perhaps widening opportunities for myself in the future.

Bradford have just told me the prices: Certificate £1650; Diploma £1650; and MSc £670.
http://www.brad.ac.uk/booklets/clinpharm.pdf

So basically its gonna cost me £4k to do it. I'm just wondering if anyone has done it and has the knowledge gained significantly changed practice and widened their job opportunities.

I did consider a PHD but I figured as I'm going to be in community the Msc would probably be a better choice being able to do it from home and no exams.

I probably will do the independent prescriber training but as far as I'm aware one needs at least 2 years post qualification experience.

The plan at least for now would be to undertake Boot's fast track management course to develop managerial skills and do the Msc at my own pace over 3-4 years. I could do it just to Diploma level buts its only another year and £670 to Msc so I reckon I should go all the way. Then finally jump on to the independent prescriber bandwagon then I'm geared up pretty much for a wide range of opportunities.

[DavidS]

So basically its gonna cost me £4k to do it.

Don't forget to factor in the time it will take. I did a couple of Master degrees a few years ago and I reckon I lost about a year's worth of work, and much of my hair colour. I only finished one, taking a postgrad diploma in the other one. I just couldn't face another dissertation. Neither of these were in pharmacy, btw, so I can't help you there.

Will Boots support you with any time: I doubt it, as they will reckon that an MSc is no use to them.

On the other hand, hospital or industry might just love it and sponsor you (but you won't get paid as much). That is the route I would choose, particularly at the moment, when retail parmacy priorities are changing so rapidly.

It would be interesting to hear Tony Schofield's point of view.

[Tesh]

Yeah I dont think I could face another dissertation either especially working full time. I'm considering a Diploma instead I think. Does anyone think it will be beneficial?

[cheapshots]

Hey Tesh,

I'm a pre-reg in a London hospital. I know you mentioned you were planning on doing community pharmacy but just to clear things up I thought I would reply.

As far as I am aware, once qualified, if you stay in a London hospital, they will require you to do the hospital diploma. The hospital will contribute to the costs but I do not know how much. Also bare in mind you will have study days BUT this is taken out of your annual leave!

They’re making a big fuss over this diploma. Personally I think experience speaks louder than a certificate with your name printed on it. I also think its just a ploy to keep you on a lower pay band for as long as possible….the NHS needs to get its money’s worth out of us!!!!

Just a thought

Cheapshots

[Steve G]

There were several Boots pharmacists on the diploma I did at Aston, and a few of them carried on to the MSc. Boots were funding these, but none of them were newly qualified.