Health Education England has announced 1,000 new funded training places for pharmacy staff to support their colleagues’ professional development, half of which will go to prospective Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs).

In addition to training up these individuals to supervise other pharmacists’ work towards an independent prescribing qualification, a further 500 places are being offered to prospective Designated Supervisors (DSs) for trainee pharmacists, pre-registration pharmacy technician education supervisors and other roles.

The DPP training places are open to experienced independent prescribers, the DS places to pharmacists with at least three years’ experience and the education supervisor roles to both pharmacy technicians and pharmacists.

“Training will be flexible to accommodate work schedules and will allow learners to develop their skills and knowledge around delivering educational supervision while keeping patient safety and person-centred care at the forefront,” said HEE.

The programme is coordinated by NHS England’s Pharmacy Integration Programme, with the training delivered by ProPharmace.

Chief pharmaceutical officer David Webb said: “This is part of NHSE’s strategy to increase access to prescribing supervision in community pharmacy and create a culture where existing pharmacist independent prescribers train to become DPPs and DSs as part of their career development.

“This is part of our work to ensure the NHS is ready to support and mentor the new workforce of pharmacist independent prescribers from 2026.”

Liz Fidler, a senior advisor on pharmacy technician practice with NHSE, commented: “I am delighted that this programme will be supporting the expansion of pharmacy technician education supervisors. Education supervisors, using their knowledge and skills, will enable us to support and train more pre and post-registration pharmacy technicians to develop their clinical roles and services, supporting reforms and building in sustainability for the future.”