PRIMARY CARE
Pharmacy Professionals
Clinical pharmacists are increasingly working as part of general practice teams. They are highly qualified experts in medicines and can help people in a range of ways. This includes carrying out structured medication reviews for patients with ongoing health problems and improving patient safety, outcomes and value through a person-centred approach (NHSE).
Pharmacy Technicians and Patient Group Directions
As you will be aware, from 26th June 2024 pharmacy technicians are now able to legally supply or administer medicines to a pre-defined group of patients via a PGD (Patient Group Direction).
This is an exciting opportunity for our pharmacy technician workforce, and I am sure that many of you will be keen to maximise the potential in this area for pharmacy technicians to support with access to pharmacy services.
We are keen to gauge what our colleagues’ plans are for the inclusion of pharmacy technicians in their PGDs and where they are up to in terms of planning and/or actioning the change. This will help us to understand where the system may need to support, such as with access to training for example.
Therefore, lead pharmacy technicians from the North West NHS England regional team and the ICBs, with pharmacy lead colleagues have collaborated and produced a short Microsoft Forms survey. It should only take about 10 – 15 minutes to complete and we would be extremely grateful if you could cascade this email and link to the survey to all pharmacy technicians in all sectors.
Here’s the link to the short survey https://forms.office.com/e/s3d56GEZRS. Submissions will close at 8am, Monday 3rd February 2025. NB: This form pertains to PGDs only and not to National Protocols.
Please be assured that information provided in the survey will remain confidential unless specifically authorised. If you have any problems with this survey, please contact [email protected]
NHSE Pharmacy Foundation Training Update
Prescribing Placement Opportunity
To support Community Trainee Pharmacists
The Pharmacist undergraduate training now includes new learning outcomes which enable newly qualified Pharmacists to be Independent Prescribers at the point of registration.
The Training Hub is looking for Independent Prescribers to support a 6-8 week (or alternative) placement for a Foundation year trainee from the Community Pharmacy Sector.
Expected financial renumeration – circa £1000 to £1500.
Please view the following slides and PDF for more information Supporting prescribing rotations / Information for General Practice & PCNs L&SC
For support at a local level (Practice/PCNs) please contact [email protected]
Alternative contacts: [email protected] or [email protected]
To express your interest within Lancashire and South Cumbria please complete the MS Form
THE DETAILS
Clinical Pharmacists Explained
What's happening
Videos & Resources
The NHS England Newly Qualified Pharmacist pathway aims to link the initial education and training reforms to a continuum of development into post-registration. The pathway is intended to help pharmacists make the transition to more independent learning and acts as a stepping-stone towards enhanced and advanced practice.
For more information and to watch an Information Session for Learners please visit NHS England – Workforce Training and Education
Pharmacy technicians are valued and important members of the primary care pharmacy workforce. In these short podcast episodes, pharmacy technicians talk about the variety of roles and opportunities for the profession, and the contribution they make to patient care. Topics discussed include leadership, pharmacy technician run clinics and phlebotomy services in primary care, and pharmacy technician support for structured medication reviews.
Check out NHSE’s Clinical Pharmacists page for information on:
- Support for recruitment and employment
- About clinical pharmacists
- Pilot site external evaluation, Case studies
- Blogs
Guidance for community pharmacy contractors on the Pharmacy Quality Scheme (PQS) 2023/24 has now been published. PQS commenced on 10 October 22 as part of the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework agreement.
Sign up to receive the new bi-annual Inclusive Pharmacy Practice (IPP) bulletin, which highlights examples of community pharmacy and primary care good practice.
HEE are pleased to announce new, fully funded, NHS clinical examination skills training for community pharmacists.
This new offer will build on community pharmacists’ existing clinical examination and consultation skills – to assess, treat and manage common health problems.
10,000 module places will be available until March 2024.
Sign up now for Clinical examination skills training, which will be delivered by CliniSkills.
About the training: Following completion of a pre-required, online gateway module on history taking and identification of serious conditions, pharmacists can choose their preferred journey through four optional modules, based on professional interests. These modules cover four key themes: dermatology, cardiology, paediatrics, and ear, nose and throat.
The module content will be delivered online using a flexible and responsive eLearning system, with optional face-to-face attendance for pharmacists who would find this beneficial. Pharmacists can complete the training at a pace and time of their choice. Face-to-face workshops will be scheduled to accommodate pharmacist working patterns.
The training is designed to be complementary to independent prescribing training and can be completed prior to or after independent prescribing training courses.
Who is eligible: This offer is available to community pharmacists, including part time staff and locums working in community pharmacy.
Further information
To register and find out more about the training visit the CliniSkills website.
To find out more about the Pharmacy Integration Programme, visit the Health Education England website.
For any further enquiries, please contact [email protected]
