Non-Medical Prescribing

We aim to ensure that the course delivers outcomes which meet the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Competency Framework for all Prescribers (2021) adopted by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Non-Medical Prescribing

This course will enable you to evaluate and challenge prescribing practice with reference to evidence based practice, equality and diversity and clinical governance.

This module is accredited by the NMC, HCPC (Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Advanced Paramedics and Therapeutic Radiographers) and upon successful completion, you will be able to add an annotation to your professional registration as an independent prescriber. For Dietitians and Diagnostic Radiographers you will be able upon successful completion to add the annotation as a supplementary prescriber.

Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists

Our course is designed specifically for pharmacists and both the course manager and course tutors are qualified prescribers. In addition, our course has been approved by the GPhC to be delivered by a distance learning format requiring only four days attendance at the University and a further two online study days over a 6-month period. The distance learning format of the course enables busy health professionals to study where and when it is most convenient to them.

The aims and learning outcomes for the course are those stipulated by the GPhC for a full Independent Prescribing programme. They are expressed below in a manner that is compatible with Masters level study.

Following completion of the course, pharmacist independent prescribers will be able to demonstrate all 32 of the GPhC learning outcomes, by applying knowledge of therapeutics and prescribing to the condition(s) for which they intend to prescribe, using an evidence-based approach that takes into account recent research and current professional practice.

The learning outcomes are presented under four domains:

person-centred care
professionalism
professional knowledge and skills, and
collaboration

Pharmacist Independent Prescribing - Practice Certificate

This course, which is suitable for all clinical specialties, has been designed to expand your existing knowledge and develop prescribing skills to support effective clinical care of patients in a patient-facing prescribing role.

Throughout the programme, it is our aim to enable you to:

Develop the knowledge, skills and clinical confidence to prepare you as a pharmacist to become a safe independent prescriber, working effectively within a health care team.
Recognise, take-responsibility for and demonstrate person-centred care.
Recognise, understand, apply and reflect upon professionalism as a prescriber.
Apply, manage and utilise professional knowledge and skills commensurate with being an independent prescriber.
Work collaboratively with patients and other health care workers, recognise your own role and the role of others, and demonstrate appropriate clinical skills.
Understand the role and responsibilities of an independent prescriber.
Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively.
Use diagnostic aids relevant to the conditions for which you as a pharmacist intend to prescribe, including monitoring response to therapy.
Develop effective communication skills and relationships with patients, carers, other prescribers and members of the healthcare team.
Describe the pathophysiology of the condition being treated, and recognise the signs and symptoms of illness.
Take an accurate medical history and carry out relevant clinical assessments.
Utilise knowledge and skills in a critical and systematic manner.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

Identify and evaluate presenting complaints of patients.
Respond to varied clinical situations, multiple pathologies or complex medical needs, guided by consultation and diagnostic methods designed to establish reliable identification of clinical presentations and therapeutic options.

This is a clinical course involving health assessment of patients, therefore, you must be prepared to physically examine patients, models and fellow students.