REPRESENTATION
Foundation Training Year – Recruitment Proposals for 26/27 As part of the overall reform of Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists, new arrangements are now required for the selection and admission into the Foundation Training Year (FTY). The Department of Health has set up the Task and Finish Group comprised of representatives from the Hospital and Community Pharmacy sectors, employers representatives and NICPLD, to help develop a suitable recruitment process. UCA-NI is co-chairing this group, and we are working hard to ensure that the views and needs of the community pharmacy sector are fully represented.
2026/27 will once again see the Foundation Training Year split with 6 months in hospital and 6 months in community pharmacy. It is understood that, in this cohort, undergraduate applicants will significantly exceed the number of funded training placements available, which is capped at 200. This necessitates a co-ordinated/regional approach to interview and select into the FTY programme.
An engagement event was held in December outlining draft proposals for a regional selection and admission process for the 2026/27 Foundation Training cohort.
Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the proposals under consideration, which has been very helpful. The presentation slides are currently available to view here:
https://www.nicpld.org/courses/fty/2627.asp
The preferred process was identified as Option 3 which is undergoing more detailed scoping and further information will be provided to you at the earliest opportunity.
The option will involve a single application process, a single interview process involving both sectors and allocation of the top 200 applicants to corresponding 6 month placements. Employers will not be required to interview individually or offer employment outside of the regional selection process.
The Department of Health have informed undergraduates that a single regional selection process will be in place for the 2026/27 cohort. The letter is available to view here:
https://www.nicpld.org/courses/fty/2627.asp
At this point, we can confirm that applications will be invited from undergraduates through a central point in June 2025 with interviews held in September 2025. Further engagement will take place once more details of the process are scoped out.
Candidates will be asked to preference training placements as part of the process and pharmacies will be given the opportunity to promote the suitability and attractiveness of their pharmacy as a supportive training environment.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
TRIBUTE TO MAUREEN DELANEY & JASON ANDREWS OF PROFILE PUBLISHING
UCA-NI has had the pleasure of working with Profile Publishing since 2003. Jason Andrews brought a fresh perspective to the Ulster Chemists’ Association publications and a new name – Pharmacy in Focus.
Over the years, UCA and Profile Publishing developed a trusted and valued partnership, grounded in a deep understanding of the industry and a shared vision for the community pharmacy sector.
Together, we worked to create opportunities for collaboration, growth and celebration. One of the most significant milestones of this partnership was the transformation of the Association’s annual dinner into what is now known and loved as the Pharmacy in Focus Awards.
With the arrival of Maureen Delaney in 2013, the Pharmacy in Focus magazine, Yearbook/Diary, and the annual Pharmacy in Focus Awards event flourished, strengthening relationships with trade partners, fostering professional networks and amplifying the inspiring stories of community pharmacies and pharmacists across Northern Ireland.
One of the most poignant moments of our journey together was sharing the celebratory
video at our first Pharmacy in Focus Awards event post-Covid. It was a powerful reminder of the resilience and camaraderie within the community pharmacy sector, showcasing the unwavering support pharmacies provided to each other and their communities during the most challenging of times.
When Maureen Delaney announced her retirement late last year and Profile Publishing made the difficult decision to pass on the stewardship of Pharmacy in Focus, UCA-NI received the news with great sadness.
Jason and Maureen’s dedication, passion, and hard work have left an indelible mark, and their absence will be deeply felt.
Their contributions over the past two decades have been instrumental in shaping the success of Pharmacy in Focus, and we are immensely grateful for their commitment to UCA and the community pharmacy sector. We wish them both every success in the future.
NEW CHAPTER As we turn the page, UCA-NI is pleased to announce that, in consultation with Profile Publishing, the management of NI Pharmacy in Focus publications and events has been
entrusted to the wonderful team at PharmacyShows.
Edel McMahon, UCA-NI Chair said, “We are excited to begin this new journey with Richard and Amy Stephenson, who bring fresh ideas and a renewed enthusiasm for enhancing communication and networking within the community pharmacy sector.
“After the incredible success of the NI PharmacyShow in January, we are eagerly anticipating the Pharmacy in Focus Awards on 29th March. We extend our best wishes to the PharmacyShows team as we embark on this next chapter together, ensuring that Pharmacy in Focus continues to be a beacon of celebration, connection and excellence for Northern Ireland pharmacies.”
JASON AND MAUREEN’S DEDICATION, PASSION AND HARD WORK HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK AND THEIR ABSENCE WILL BE DEEPLY FELT.
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