A group of South Eastern Trust Trainee Pharmacists are set to become the first Pharmacists to qualify as independent Prescribers as they prepare to join the professional register.
The milestone follows the introduction of the General Pharmaceutical Council’s new Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists standards, which have transformed Pharmacist education into a single five-year training pathway integrating the MPharm degree with the foundation training year. The new standards place greater emphasis on clinical practice, consultation skills, clinical assessment, decision-making and person-centred care, ensuring Pharmacists are equipped to deliver direct patient care from the point of registration.
The first cohort of South Eastern Trust Foundation Year Trainee (FYT) Pharmacists have spent six months in the Ulster Hospital developing their skills under the supervision of experienced Pharmacists and will join the professional register in August. As Prescribing Pharmacists, they will play an increasingly important role in improving access to care, enhancing patient outcomes and supporting Multi-Disciplinary Teams across hospital and community settings.
As part of their training, the Trainee Pharmacists have undertaken enhanced clinical learning and extensive placements across Community Pharmacy and Hospital Pharmacy, preparing them to work confidently as part of Multi-Disciplinary Teams and contribute to medicines optimisation and the management of long-term conditions.
South Eastern Trust, Trainee Pharmacist, Josh McIlhagga shared how his experience was invaluable. “This year has been extremely rewarding and educational, especially as we will be the first cohort of Pharmacists joining the professional register as independent Prescribers.
“We have had the opportunity within the Trust to work alongside our DPPs (Designated Prescriber Practitioners) and I was taught the correct resources to use to gather the information needed to make safe clinical and prescribing decisions.”
Josh explained how he gained hands-on experience in Ards Hospital and has accepted a Pharmacist post in the Ulster Hospital, “I have always been interested in Science, particularly Chemistry, which is why I went into Pharmacy in the first place. I love patient interaction and speaking to people, which is such a core part of Pharmacy. It is not just about working behind the scenes making sure medicines are correct.
“I have gained invaluable experience during this past year, it has really expanded my clinical knowledge. You can only learn so much at university. The experience you gain in the hospital setting is invaluable and forms the foundation you will build on throughout your career.”
South Eastern Trust, Trainee Pharmacist, Ben Finnerty commented, “I came to the hospital in February and for the first three months, I worked as part of the Care of the Elderly Team which was really rewarding. I will be going back to study Medicine in September and I will definitely be taking all my experience with me as it will certainly make me a better practitioner in the future.
“I have found the experience fantastic. Coming into the hospital allows you to apply what you have learnt at university. One of the most important skills a Pharmacist has is communication and being able to talk to patients in a way that helps them understand their medication.”
South Eastern Trust, Foundation Year Training Lead Pharmacist, Chanel Jones, added, “The introduction of independent prescribing at the point of registration marks a significant step forward for the Pharmacy profession. These new Pharmacists will join the workforce with enhanced clinical knowledge, prescribing skills and the confidence to make a real difference to patient care from day one.
“The dedication shown by this first cohort throughout their training has been outstanding. The support provided by our Trust Pharmacists who supervised and mentored the Trainees has been invaluable and has helped prepare them to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our patients.”