Will Plans to Change Pharmacy Degrees Go Ahead?

The NHS Modernising Pharmacy Careers programme has proposed a 5 year course with employers taking more responsibility for pharmacy training and the pre reg year being replaced by 2 six month placements worked in years 4 and 5.
A pharmacy degree allows a student to understand the technical knowledge to be a pharmacist, only by applying that knowledge and using it in real life situations can pre regs develop the skills to work in a community pharmacy.
Numark has commented that independent pharmacies could be deterred from offering pre reg placements if plans to overhaul pharmacy degrees are not implemented with care.