1. Advanced practice and specialisation – the uk perspective
Kate Fletcher
BPharm(Hons) PGDipPharmPrac MRPharmS RPh(UK) AMMPS FHEA
Lecturer in Pharmacy, University of Reading Malaysia

2. Introduction UK pharmacist education and regulation
hospital pharmacist career progression
advanced practice and specialisation

3. education
leave school at 18 with university-entry level qualifications (A-levels)
chemistry + biology/mathematics/physics/other
undergraduate MPharm, 4 years
1 year pre-registration training
competencies + registration assessment
(see
register as a pharmacist

4. regulation
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) regulates the profession – educational standards and accreditation
controls the registers
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) is professional and representative body –
support
training
encourages collaboration

5. hospital career progression
start as Band 6 rotational pharmacist (training post, foundation years)
rotations e.g. dispensary, clinical, medicines information,
aseptic production
progress monitored against the Foundation Pharmacy Framework (FPF)
start post-graduate diploma (2-3 years, part-time, experiential and formal learning, general clinical pharmacy)

6. the next steps… complete diploma ?progress to Master’s?
Band 7 – training post but more responsibility, independence,
beginning of specialisation
experiential learning
CPD!

7. and then… ~ 5 years qualified – Band 8a
specialised – clinical, medicines information, production, management
manage team
budget reporting
formulary reviews
training
progress to 8b, 8c etc.
CPD!

8. advanced practice
defined by: (NHS London Pharmacy Education & Training)
managing complex situations and patients
more experienced
more knowledgeable
more skilled (e.g. analysis & evaluation, judgement, decision making)
higher levels of responsibility and accountability
challenge effectively
independent
additional responsibilities e.g. pharmacist prescriber
specialisation and narrowing of scope
e.g. Specialist Renal Pharmacist

9. advanced practice framework
RPS developed the Advanced Practice Framework (APF)
follows on from FPF
identify and recognise stage of practice of individual
applicable to experienced pharmacists in all sectors
supportive framework to facilitate development

10. the apf clusters expert professional practice (EPP)
collaborative working relationships (CWR)
leadership (L)
management (M)
education, training and development (ET&D)
research and evaluation (R&E)
34 competencies across these clusters with 3 stages:
Advanced Stage I – beyond foundation years, starting to specialise
Advanced Stage II – expert in area of practice, leader
Mastery – Consultant (NHS); national/international leader

11. summary emphasis on experiential learning - learning by doing
led by the individual – CPD cycle
supported by department
flexible

12. Thank you for listening.