Independent Prescriber (IP) funding offer from Health Education England (HEE)

Written by admin on Friday 18th June 2021

The IP course available at Portsmouth University will probably be the most relevant for pharmacists working locally in Hampshire and Isle of Wight

 

Please note:

  • There is a very short deadline, so urgent action is required for interested pharmacists.
  • Kerry explains below that this is open to community pharmacy - but only if the person considering is working, in some way, to support their local GPs or a PCN.

Information from Kerry Street, HEE

Community pharmacy is within the remit of primary care and (for the purposes of these training hub funds) if the community pharmacist has some sort of input into GP/PCN activity then they will be eligible for this training hub funding. This was not made clear from the communication but I would welcome enquiries from community pharmacy. We have in the past supported community pharmacists undertaking their IP training in a GP/PCN environment while appreciating their main role is as a community pharmacist. If they are considered eligible they need to complete a commitment form which requires a named mentor/Designated Medical Practitioner (DMP)/Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) and commitment from the practice senior partner/practice manager to support them. You have probably seen the email but I have included the text below. Let me know if you have any further questions. My understanding is that there will be national funding for IP which will support community pharmacists (unclear on the timeline) – the main challenge is finding mentors (DMP/DPP) to support them – there are companies selling this service but (at Bath) we are finding the students are having a very poor experience with this route and risking getting through the programme…..I believe they pay a lot of money for the service.

As an aside, with my Bath ‘hat’ on we are having more enquiries from community pharmacists to undertake IP (which is great), but there is often little understanding about the requirements such as needing a DMP/DPP and 90 hours of observed practice together with study days and coursework. For our existing primary care students we are holding a Q&A webinar to help support this process.

Dear Colleague,

The Wessex Primary Care Training Hub are offering funded places for Independent Prescribing (IP) at Portsmouth and Bath Universities and Advanced Clinical Assessment (ACA) at Bath University.

The IP funding will be for pharmacists not recruited under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) as IP is already funded for ARRS roles.

ACA will be open to all pharmacists who are (or will be) Independent Prescribers by December 2021, when the ACA module starts.

If you are interested please email me to complete the appropriate information. Funding is not confirmed until this is authorised by HEE, please do not apply until this is agreed (unless you wish to self-fund).

Further information can be found via the links below:

This is an academic level 7 (Masters level) 30 credit unit with the following learning outcomes and content:

Learning Outcomes

  • Analyse the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and red flags within a range of presentations and apply this to clinical reasoning
  • Demonstrate physical examination skills to gather relevant diagnostic information within a range of conditions
  • Identify and critically evaluate all available clinical information, and use this to formulate differential and/or working diagnoses, within the context of clinical ambiguity
  • Determine holistic patient care plans, including further investigations, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and ongoing continuity of care
  • Identify, critically evaluate and apply key evidence sources in order to effect (and support others to effect) medicines optimisation outcomes within a range of clinical conditions
  • Demonstrate effective communication and consultation skills in order to gather a full history from a range of patients (and carers, relatives, advocates, representatives etc.) within the context of clinical uncertainty and/or communication challenges
  • Use effective communication strategies to support patients (and carers, advocates, representatives) and healthcare professionals to make complex shared medicines optimisation decisions; taking into account patient views/beliefs/ICE
  • Identify and critically analyse clinical complexity and ambiguity, and use this to determine appropriate autonomous action or referral in order to provide best patient care within a range of complex presenting cases

Content

  • Physiology/pathophysiology of body systems/ major presentations; Physical Examination Skills; Applied medical History taking: relating to:
    • The respiratory system
    • The cardiovascular system
    • Musculo-skeletal system +Trauma
    • The Nervous system
    • Mental Health
    • ENT/Dermatology/Genito-urinary  systems
    • Infections
    • Basic first aid/Anaphylaxis/Basic Life Support
  • Clinical decision making
  • Formulation
  • Diagnostic reasoning
  • Investigations
  • Autonomous and team working
  • Continuity of care and sectoral transfer

Please feel free to share with colleagues in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight region who are working in primary care and may be interested.

Best wishes, Kerry

Kerry Street MRPharmS, FHEA
Primary Care Learning Environment Lead - Pharmacy, Primary Care Training Hub (Wessex)
Pronouns: (she/her)
Normal Working Days: Monday, Tuesday & Friday.
Health Education England
Contact via MS Teams and Skype
M. 07585 998763
www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/pharmacy
 
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