One of our strategic aims is to deliver improvements in pharmacy care by modernising how we regulate education and training. The new standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists, announced in January 2021, introduce major reforms that will benefit future pharmacists and patients.
The changes will help achieve ambitious strategies for pharmacy and health across the UK. They will allow newly qualified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to play a much greater role in providing clinical care to patients and the public. These ‘next generation’ pharmacists will help the NHS in England meet the urgent demand for increased clinical skills in prescribing, preventing ill-health and supporting the best possible outcomes from medicines.
During 2021/22, we continued to work closely with education bodies, universities and employers in England, Scotland and Wales to bring in these changes. The changes will be for the benefit of the health services in each country, the pharmacist profession, students, trainees and patients.
The foundation training year replaced the pre-registration training year from July 2021. 'Learning outcomes' have replaced the performance standards. These changes are part of our implementing the new standards for
We are gradually making changes to the foundation training year, by working with Health Education England (HEE), NHS Education Scotland (NES), and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the Pharmacy Schools Council, pharmacy schools and other key organisations.
The fifth (foundation training) year will become a more intensive foundation training year with:
stronger supervision support for trainees
more cross-sector clinical placements, and
more collaborative working between higher education institutions, statutory education bodies and employers.
Trainees will have a consistent experience and the same opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge in different healthcare settings.
The full set of learning outcomes includes
ones to allow trainees to be annotated as
independent prescribers at the point of
registration. We recognise that independent
prescribing cannot be introduced immediately.
outcomes under which trainees aren't required to train as independent prescribers during their foundation training year. These outcomes have applied in all settings and sectors since July 2021. These interim learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and attributes a trainee must demonstrate by the end of their foundation training year.