Need some advice..have been conned into a dodgy pre-reg position

[BruManX]

Hi, so as the title suggest am not happy at all in my pre-reg position. I work in an independent community pharmacy and am in my fifth month now. I haven't been sent on one training day and I am used soley as a pair of cheap (free) hands, with barely no other experiences exept dispensing, checking and doing some methadone. Disgracefully I have only saw my tutor and worked with him on TWO occasions in over 4 months and although he is a nice guy he has zero input into my development as a pharmacist. My salary is less that what they are given by the RPSGB and I am struggling financially. In my interview the job seemed much more appealing due to a lot of fabrications. I got a 1st in my degree from a top university and i deserve better than this! Am worried tho that if I bring it to the RPSGB attention that'll il shoot myself in the foot as it will take longer to complete my pre-reg year. What do I do? Is there anyway I can switch pre-reg half way through with no penalty on my progression along the pre-reg year or do I just deal with it and have a really really bad year?! ANy advice is welcome am all ears!

[lamzee]

I had a bad pre-reg too! Just put up with it, and make sure you know enough to pass the exam. Enlist a friend to help you with things you get stuck on, or post them on this forum.

It's only 12 months then you never have to go there again!

[johnep]

One of the better ideas in the new Local Pharmacy Forums is that each pre reg should have a mentor outside of where they are working as a pre reg.
The situation you describe is all too common and a search of the archives will show this,
I intend to raise this point with a MOC next week with regard to a locum RS coming across such an unfortunate pre reg.
johnep

[BruManX]

That sounds like a good idea John.What would u suggest i do. I know il probably just have to get on with it but I really feel like doing something about it if theres a chance of a positive outome?!

[roper]

I had a crap placement but thankfully it was only 6 months as I did a split pre-reg (part of my degree). Tutor signed everything as satisfactory when he took my folder home at weekend. Hardly spoke to me! I didn't feel able to report him although I grumbled. I guess I saw I was going to pass as he wasn't even watching. It did mean that I had to teach myself more stuff in my 1st years practising. I do still resent it - but at least I was getting support from my uni to enable me to pass the pre-reg exam. (It's a long time ago and I was the 1st year to take it! I have a BPharm not an MPharm.)
My advice would be to find a friend doing pre-reg with Boots, Lloyds or a big supermarket, then do an awful lot of photocopying!

[Fleegle]

Suggest you put up with it, as you are in a winning situation. Your tutor has only been in direct contact with you twice. He/She knows damn well that if they don't pass you, then the fan will be hit big-style. Roper has posted good advice. To cliche, what goes around comes around. Get qualified, then do what you have to do.

Just to cheer you up a bit, my own pre-reg tutor snuffed it half way through my own pre-reg year. I couldn't see the typewriter (days before computers) properly for pipe smoke coming from the deckchair he frequented in the dispensary. He lasted a month after he started coughing up blood. A replacement tutor was found for me, but as it turned out she had a serious farting problem. Happy days!

Survival of the fittest.

Fleeg.

[Teethlai]

have you talked to your tutor about your concerns? It seems like you are not learning much (at least from your tutor). If you only see him once every few weeks, that is a problem I guess.

[roper]

I was once a regular locum in a pharmacy with a pre-reg and when the society rang up asking for the tutor they always got me. They sussed that the pre-reg was not getting enough time working alongside the tutor. (I think 25h per week is a minimum) and I lost a regular locum because the tutor had to arrange to be there. I don't believe the pre-reg was penalised but I would not have been prepared to make a report just in case.

[johnep]

This is the point I wish to put to the MOC. ie What is the responsibility of the locum as RP for the day if he/she discovers such a situation?
johnep

[DavidS]

Suggest you put up with it, as you are in a winning situation. Your tutor has only been in direct contact with you twice. He/She knows damn well that if they don't pass you, then the fan will be hit big-style.

Excellent advice from the Fleeg. You are right in thinking that the regulator is only interested in regulations, and you would have to re-begin your pre-reg year. Justice for you won't come into it.

You are obviously clever enough to get through the exam without his/her assistance -- I always wonder how much help such a pre-reg tutor would be anyway -- and you have a guarantee that you will be signed off at the end, which several people posting on here would reckon is worth a LOT.

As far as reporting the tutor goes, I would certainly be unwilling to do that until safe whistleblowing arrangements have been put in place by the regulator. Its an early point in your career to commit professional suicide. It would be difficult enough anyway, given that there's only one of you per year. And by the time you register there may be another pre-reg in position.

Its difficult to address your financial situation. If you have agreed to a certain salary in writing, its going to be difficult for you to get that changed.