The ability to independently prescribe is crucial for pharmacists delivering care across the NHS. Working with our partners and stakeholders, we are developing funded training offers for pharmacists aiming to become independent prescribers.
Training will enable the provision of new models of care: supporting patients from diagnosis to prescribing, providing advice and follow-up, and preparing pharmacists to provide clinical care, as pharmacy services become more widespread within emerging clinical pathways.
New for Autumn 2022
Applications for the Autumn 2022 training offers for 2022/2023 are now open.
Almost 3,000 Independent prescribing courses will be available to pharmacists who meet the required eligibility criteria:
- Community pharmacists (including locum pharmacists); Pharmacists employed in General Practice (who are not eligible for, or enrolled on, the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme (PCPEP) and those who are working to provide primary care services (e.g., working in primary care) who are not employed in ARRS roles); and Health and Justice pharmacists
- Pharmacists enrolled on CPPE’s Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) and meet the PCPEP criteria to enrol on an Independent Prescribing Course
- Pharmacists working in an NHS Hospital Trust or Mental Health Trust (NHS managed sector); pharmacists working in an integrated care board, ICB (previously CCG pharmacists)
Courses will be available from September 2022 to March 2023, with several universities offering multiple dates for cohort intakes.
University providers are now taking applications. Don’t miss out – check your eligibility and apply now.
If you would like to be added to our distribution list for future information, please register your interest.
Eligibility
Eligible pharmacists will also need to have (as a minimum):
- The support of an identified designated prescribing practitioner (DPP).
- An appropriate practice-based learning environment in a prescribing setting that can offer appropriate clinical support.
- Evidence that you meet the course provider eligibility criteria (applicants will be subject to their chosen university’s enrolment processes).
- Commitment to use the skill within your area of competence and expertise, for the delivery of NHS clinical services as they emerge.
If you would like to know more about the General Pharmaceutical Council’s eligibility criteria, please visit the GPhC website.
HEIs – cohort start dates
Cohorts will start from September 2022, with several cohort start dates available depending on the university provider.
As an overview, eligible pharmacists can apply to the following university providers (click on the tiles below for more information). University providers are broken down by sector – please note the university providers differ depending on the sector you work in:
Pharmacy Integration Programme – Approved Suppliers
Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) – Approved Suppliers
NHS Managed Sector – Approved Suppliers
For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP)
A DPP is a healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights (an annotation or automatic right to prescribe) who will mentor and supervise the pharmacist during the period of learning in practice.
The role of DPP encompasses a range of healthcare professionals and includes designated medical practitioners (DMP). The DPP must be suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role and have demonstrated continuous professional development or revalidation relevant to this role. The personal characteristics, professional skills, knowledge, teaching and training required to be a DPP are described in the RPS Competency Framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners.
The responsibility is on the pharmacist to identify a suitable DPP. We are developing further guidance on finding a DPP and suitable learning environment. We will share this as soon as it becomes available.
For individual DPP queries please contact the university you wish to apply to from the HEE list of approved universities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy/independent-prescribing