A Blog from Elsa Levene, University of Huddersfield – Independent Prescribing
At CPWY, we’re running a series of updates to support anyone who is thinking about starting their own IP journey. Whether you’re already preparing your application, still weighing up your options, or simply curious about what the training involves, we want to help you feel informed, supported, and confident. See the document here which details the steps to take if this is something you are interested in.
Our upcoming ‘Your Path to Independent Prescribing Webinar’ is taking place on Tuesday 30th June at 7pm. For further details and how to register, see our website here.
Have a read of our final brilliant blog by Elsa Levene from the University of Huddersfield, where she talks about choosing the right course, the importance of a supportive DPP, and how to set yourself up for success on your IP journey.
Independent prescribing is becoming an increasingly important part of community pharmacy practice, and for many pharmacists it opens the door to greater clinical autonomy, new services and wider career opportunities.
With prescribing skills now embedded into undergraduate education, it is more important than ever for the existing workforce to consider developing prescribing skills too. Across the NHS, there is a clear move towards expanding prescribing responsibilities within pharmacy, particularly in primary care and community settings. Prescribing is now becoming a core part of the future pharmacist role.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I’d give to anyone considering undertaking their Independent Prescribing qualification is to spend some time looking at the different university courses available and find the one that works for you as a learner, particularly if you have not been in an educational setting for some time.
Every course is slightly different. Some universities offer more remote learning, some have more face-to-face teaching, some assess through OSCEs, others through written exams, and some use a blend of approaches. The “best” course is the one that fits around your learning style, work commitments and confidence levels.
At the University of Huddersfield, for example, the programme is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining remote study with on-campus clinical skills days alongside supervised practice with your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP). Our course is classed as distance learning and is designed for pharmacists with busy working schedules and lives, allowing some of the learning to be completed at times that suit you.
With that flexibility, however, comes the need for motivation, organisation and a degree of autonomy. Independent Prescribing training is rewarding, but it does require you to be proactive in managing your time, engaging with clinical opportunities and keeping on top of the workload alongside your day-to-day role.
Choosing the right DPP is also incredibly important. Your DPP should be someone who regularly prescribes and actively practises within the clinical area you are hoping to develop in. A good DPP can make a huge difference to your learning experience by providing opportunities to shadow clinics, observe decision making, develop consultation skills and gradually build confidence in practice. It is worth taking the time to identify someone who is supportive, approachable and able to offer meaningful learning opportunities throughout your training.
| For pharmacists who haven’t yet started applying, my top tip would be to start exploring your options now. Read university webpages, attend open events, speak to colleagues who have completed the qualification, and think about the area of practice you’d like to prescribe in. |
The profession is evolving quickly, and prescribing is becoming central to the future of community pharmacy. Taking the time to explore your options now could open opportunities you may not have previously considered.
