This afternoon’s discussion will focus on the question: is the MPharm still fit for purpose? We’ve seen lots of changes to the MPharm in recent years to stay in line with the shift in pharmacy practice away from dispensing and towards clinical services. But is the MPharm keeping pace with changes to everyday pharmacy practice? And is the shift towards independent prescribing in undergraduate degrees the right move? So, where along the spectrum do your own views lie? Join the Big Debate to tell us what you think. We’re expecting lots of your will want to share your views on this important topic. Simply type your comment or question into the ‘leave a reply’ box below and let us know what you think. The “live” part of the debate will close at 2pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. Join your pharmacy peers this afternoon to discuss: Whether the content of the MPharm is keeping up with the realities of modern pharmacy practice What fluctuating registration exam pass rates do and don't tell us about the quality of pharmacy education The pros and cons of baking independent prescribing training into the MPharm C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name. This debate will start at 1pm.

Tonight’s discussion will focus on the question: should pharmacist recruitment into the additional roles reimbursement system (ARRS) be halted? The ARRS, introduced in England in 2019, reimburses primary care networks (PCNs) for the salaries of several healthcare professionals – including pharmacists – as a way to help build multidisciplinary teams. The scheme has proven controversial over the past year or so. While ARRS advocates have defended it as a means by which pharmacists can gain experience working in a multidisciplinary setting, its detractors have warned of an exodus of community pharmacists as many flock to work in primary care. Some representative groups have even called for an end to the ARRS in light of “urgent…workforce issues” in community pharmacy, while others have suggested the need for pharmacy to have its own equivalent of the ARRS. But with community pharmacy’s future seemingly defined by the introduction of more clinical services, it seems clear that pharmacists’ role as the experts in medicine will become more important than ever - with PCNs eager to harness these skills. So, where along the spectrum do your own views lie? Join the Big Debate to tell us what you think. We’ve got two speakers lined up to share their views tonight, but you can also let us know your thoughts by commenting and asking questions. The “live” part of the debate will close at 8pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. Join your pharmacy peers tonight to discuss: - The impact ARRS recruitment has had on community pharmacy - How it is affecting primary care - The benefits of working in general practice pharmacy - What can be done to make jobs in community pharmacy more attractive C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name. This debate will start at 7pm.

Welcome to C+D’s tenth Big Debate. Tonight’s discussion will focus on the question: What needs to be done to make community pharmacy a more attractive career prospect? Impassioned discussions within the sector over whether there is a shortage of pharmacists have intensified in recent months. While pharmacists were added to the government’s shortage occupation list in March last year, both the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care have since told C+D that they believe community pharmacy employers are ultimately responsible for attracting and retaining their staff. Some maintain that there is a lack of pharmacists willing to work in the sector in its current state. But some employers have argued that they struggle to retain their pharmacists due to the more attractive career prospects and higher salaries offered by primary care networks and hospitals. So, what can community pharmacy employers do to make careers in pharmacy more attractive? We’ve got three speakers lined up to share their views tonight, but you can also let us know your thoughts by commenting and asking questions. The “live” part of the debate will close at 8pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name. This debate will start at 7pm.

Welcome to C+D's ninth Big Debate.  Tonight’s discussion will focus on the question: “Do online outlets pose a threat to community pharmacy’s reputation?” Some online pharmacy businesses are flourishing, with the pandemic further priming the field for distance-selling outlets. However, the General Pharmaceutical Council last month revealed it had  187 open fitness-to-practise cases linked to 83 online pharmacies and, last year, it said it was considering “differentiated fees options to cover the increased regulation needed for online pharmacies”. So, should community pharmacies embrace the digital model and can these different models coexist? What safety improvements should online pharmacies implement?  Could community pharmacies learn something from online outlets? We’ve got three speakers lined up to share their views tonight, but you can also let us know your thoughts by commenting and asking questions. The “live” part of the debate will close at 8pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name. This debate will start at 7pm.

Welcome to C+D’s seventh Big Debate. Tonight’s discussion will focus on this question: “Is getting an independent prescribing qualification worth it?” Changes to the initial education and training standards for pharmacists are making prescribing a fundamental part of pharmacists’ training. But government and pharmacy bodies across Great Britain have also expressed a clear intention to upskill the existing pharmacist fleet with prescribing competencies. So, is it worth completing an IP course and getting the qualification? Are there enough chances for community pharmacists to use these skills in their daily practice? We’ve lined up five speakers who are going to share their views tonight, but you can also let us know your thoughts by commenting and asking questions. The “live” part of the debate will close at 8pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name. This debate will start at 7pm.

I’m applying for pharmacy, but as mentioned in other posts the rates have decreased drastically and some say that pharmacy is not a viable career anymore, especially with the introduction of Amazon pharmacy soon to come. What are your thoughts on this? Is pharmacy still as good a career choice as it was 20 years ago? And Is community pharmacy?

The live element of this debate – which asks: is there a shortage of community pharmacists? – will start at 7pm and last until 8pm, but two of the panellists who are unable to join the live element have preprepared statements. Please find them posted below to read before the live discussion. For planned topics of conversation in this debate, see here. See you online from 7pm. Ps. C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name.

Good evening everyone, welcome to our fifth Big Debate. Pharmacy supervision has been at times defined as an emotive topic, and for good reasons. But no matter on which side of the argument pharmacy professionals stand it is agreed by all that patient safety should not be compromised. A formal Community Pharmacy Supervision Practice Group – which includes members from the Association of Independent Multiple pharmacies (AIMp), the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA), the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), and the Pharmacists’ Defence Union (PDA) – first met on September 28 after sector bodies announced earlier this year that talks on pharmacy supervision had resumed. Tonight, we’ll be holding a less formal debate – although please note that we expect our participants to abide by the C+D community principles – on the following question: how can pharmacy supervision be modernised without compromising patient safety? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below. The “live” part of the debate will close at 8pm, but feel free to continue to exchange views for as long as you like. C+D has introduced a streamlined functionality that allows users to mention each other in a comment. Simply use ‘@’ and type in the person’s name.This debate will start at 7pm.

Good evening everyone and welcome to our fourth Big Debate. Tonight we’ll be asking whether independent pharmacies can ever truly benefit from a hub-and-spoke dispensing model. It’s been the subject of years of intense debate within the sector, but with the Medicines and Medical Devices bill receiving royal assent in early February – potentially paving the way for all community pharmacies to operate a hub-and-spoke dispensing model, regardless of whether they are part of a chain or an independent – hub-and-spoke looks set towards being rolled out across the sector. So, what is the current legal framework? What can we learn from pharmacies already utilising hub-and-spoke? And how do we ensure that patient safety is at the forefront of any model adopted sector-wide? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below. The debate will formally close at 8pm, but feel free to continue the debate for as long as you like.

Thank you for joining us this afternoon for our third Big Debate. It's a point of contention in the sector: would you offer CBD products to your customers in certain circumstances or do you steer clear? Is there enough evidence or is more research needed? Finally, what are the legal points you need to be aware of? To share your views, simply comment underneath this post.

Good evening everyone and welcome to our second Big Debate. Tonight we'll be debating whether provisionally-registered pharmacists should still have to take the registration exam.2020 has been a difficult year for pharmacy teams in general - but spare a thought for this year's pre-reg cohort, who've had to endure a particularly intense year in practice as well as months of uncertainty over when the postponed 2020 registration exam will be held. Earlier this year, the GPhC announced it would allow pre-regs who met "certain criteria" temporarily join the register to help out with pharmacy's COVID-19 efforts. However, these "prov-regs" will still have to take the registration exam when it is expected to be sat sometime early next year - despite having been practising for several months.So, should prov-regs still have to sit the registration exam? Do you think it's only fair, given all other recent cohorts have had to sit the exam, or have prov-regs already proven their competency to stay on the register? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below. The debate will formally be closing at 8pm, but feel free to continue the debate for as long as you like.