General Pharmacy Practice (Diploma)

Course Structure

1. enable you to apply appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to carry out effectively the role of the general pharmacist practitioner within your pharmacy practice base and wider healthcare teams
2. enable you to carry out effective consultations with patients respecting their diverse needs and with regard to confidentiality and consent
3. enable you to identify, prioritise and resolve complex pharmaceutical care issues
4. enable you to apply knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology and the clinical use of drugs and therapeutic guidelines to the treatment of common disease states
5. enable you to access, gather, interpret, critically evaluate and summarise medicines information
6. enable you to monitor the quality of services provided, identify, prioritise and resolve significant medicines management issues and monitor and evaluate outcomes
7. enable you to establish population health needs and apply specialist pharmaceutical knowledge to public health issues.
8. the organisation and structure of the NHS
9. health policy and its impact on working practices
10. medicines management and its application to individual patient care
11. effective methods of working with patients, health and non-health professionals
12. consultation methods and their applicability to patient care
13. compliance, adherence and concordance`
14. health beliefs: theories and models
15. advantages and limitations of different methods of communication in the context of medicines management
16. ethical issues influencing prescribing decisions
17. an evidence-based approach to drug therapy decisions
18. application of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to individual patient care
19. the use of CPD as a tool for lifelong learning.
20. a systematic approach to the delivery of care to patients with complex needs
21. a systematic approach to drug and therapy monitoring in patients with complex conditions
22. applied therapeutics
23. a systematic approach to complex queries about medicines use
24. the effective use of complex clinical data sets
25. pharmaceutical public health
26. clinical governance in the context of medicines management
27. the audit as a tool to improve the quality of patient care
28. change management as a tool to improve service provision.
29. working independently, efficiently and professionally within current NHS frameworks and the RPSGB code of ethics and professional conduct, managing any conflicting priorities
30. demonstrating appropriate initiative whilst recognising personal and professional limitations
31. communicating clearly, precisely and appropriately with patients and all other healthcare professionals
32. recognising, valuing and use appropriate theories, concepts and principles from a range of disciplines
33. demonstrating the effective application of patient confidentiality and the principles of patient consent
34. retrieving and document information in a clear and structured way
35. carrying out effective consultations with patients and carers to encourage compliance
36. accepting responsibility for your own actions and for the care of patients assigned to your care
37. undertaking a structured approach to problem solving, forming an appropriate judgement even in the absence of complete data
38. reviewing, evaluating critically and synthesising sources of information and research methodologies cited in published literature to support the care of individual patients
39. accepting responsibility for your own lifelong learning and continuing professional development
40. applying effective negotiating and influencing skills in order to achieve a definite outcome
41. assessing the outcome of personal contributions to patient care
42. evaluating and discussing legal and ethical influences related to the pharmaceutical care of individuals
43. contributing to the improvement of healthcare outcomes through reflective practice and innovation.
44. applying the principles of medicines management and pharmaceutical care in practice
45. interpreting prescriptions for medicines and evaluating for safety, quality, efficacy, legality and economy
46. advising patients, carers and healthcare professionals about medicines usage and health promotion
47. identifying, prioritising, analysing, evaluating and resolving pharmaceutical care issues (including social issues) related to real patients irrespective of complexity
48. performing complex pharmaceutical calculations in order to advise on safe drug administration
49. demonstrating respect for the patient irrespective of ethnic, cultural or religious background
50. carrying out the role of the clinical pharmacist effectively within the multidisciplinary healthcare team
51. carrying out a review of patients\x92 medication at a range of levels, document recommendations and influencing prescribers and patients appropriately to institute agreed changes
52. applying a knowledge of the pharmacology of drugs, pathophysiology of disease states and evidence-based treatment guidelines in the context of individual patients
53. selecting a range of biochemical, haematological, microbiological and near-patient tests in order to monitor efficacy and toxicity of drug therapy
54. conducting an analysis of a patient safety issue, evaluating options and drawing an appropriate conclusion
55. investigating medicines information enquiries using an appropriate research strategy, and formulating and communicating responses to queries in a timely manner
56. advising on the clinical significance of drug-drug, drug-patient and drug-disease interactions and devising a course of action to minimise risk to the patient
57. investigating medicines information enquiries using appropriate evidence and formulating a response appropriate to the needs of the enquirer
58. advising on risk management issues and ways to minimise error
59. responding to symptoms and counter prescribing medication for patients with minor ailments
60. developing the pharmaceutical service and applying change management techniques
61. conducting a clinical audit, evaluating the outcome and making recommendations for change.
62. effective written and verbal communication with academic tutors, peers, practice tutors, patients, carers and the multi-disciplinary healthcare team
63. interpersonal skills: the ability to interact with patients, the public and other health and social care professionals
64. critical appraisal and summation of information from a variety of sources
65. interpretation of the significance of general, biological and medical statistics
66. the ability to make appropriate decisions based on available information, with insight into the risks and benefits that may result from working with incomplete data
67. the ability to work independently and as part of a team within professional codes of practice and conduct, with recognition of the moral and ethical issues related to medicines management issues
68. a positive attitude and constructive approach to group discussions
69. the ability to be a reflective practitioner and autonomous learner, with the ability to take responsibility for academic, professional and personal development
70. high-level information technology skills
71. time management and organisational skills
72. high-level problem-solving skills.