A need for more independent prescribers in the community, as well as changes to their role, have created a need for modernised training standards, the General Pharmaceutical Council said as it launched a new consultation on the matter. 

The consultation, which runs until 6 June 2018, seeks views on standards for the initial education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers. The GPhC says the consultation reflects the growing importance and broadening role of independent prescribers.

It centres on three key proposed changes:

• Entry requirements: The consultation proposes that an application process to demonstrate necessary skills and experience in a given clinical area replaces the current requirement to have worked in that area for two years before training to prescribe in it
• Learning outcomes: The proposed inclusion of learning outcomes would set out the knowledge and skills a trainee will have on successful completion of a course
• ’Designated prescribing practitioners’: The consultation outlines plans for pharmacists training to become independent prescribers to have the option to be formally supervised by experienced pharmacist prescribers or other experienced prescribers. To reflect this change, the GPhC is introducing the new title for supervisors of ‘designated prescribing practitioners’.

The GPhC says the proposals have been informed by feedback from “a wide range of stakeholders,” including a survey of pharmacist prescribers and a discussion paper on the supervision of trainee prescribers published last year.

GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin said: “The need for well-trained pharmacist independent prescribers is continuing to grow and the roles for pharmacist independent prescribers have changed significantly since the current standards for their education and training were developed.

“We welcome views from anyone with an interest in this area, but we are particularly interested to hear from current and trainee pharmacist independent prescribers, course providers and course commissioners, as well as patients and the public who may use services provided by a pharmacist independent prescriber.”