Health Faculty Publications PG Study and Research 2016 | Page 47

Prescribing Studies
KEY FEATURES: The Prescribing Studies programme offers the opportunity for

MODE OF STUDY: Part-time by distance learning.

prescribers (medical and non-medical) and those providing prescribing advice, to
enhance their knowledge base, skills and understanding of prescribing and practical

LENGTH OF PROGRAMME: Normally PG Certificate (one year); PG Diploma

therapeutics, within the context of the larger healthcare team. The programme also

(two years); MSc (three years). Students have a maximum of five years to

includes the Independent Prescribing preparatory programme for those pharmacists

achieve their final award.

who wish to register with the GPhC as a prescribing pharmacist. The Programme is
fully supported by a team of experienced, friendly, and approachable academic,

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Normally, only applicants with the minimum of a

administrative and technical staff based at Keele and also supported by our network

Second Class undergraduate degree classification will be accepted onto the

of experienced, practising primary care tutors.

Programme. If English is not your first language, you must either hold a degree
from a school where English was the language of instruction OR take the IELTS™

WHO IS IT FOR? All the Prescribing Studies courses are open to: Medical and

and achieve an average score of 7 with no less than 6.5 in any individual

non-medical prescribers in primary care; Pharmacists who are registered with the

element.

General Pharmaceutical Council (or other equivalent regulatory body for pharmacists
outside of the UK) as practising, and who regularly work in primary care providing

All applicants must be working in an appropriate healthcare environment that

prescribing advice. Other health care professionals with an interest in therapeutics and

will permit them to fulfil all the requirements of their chosen programme of

prescribing may be admitted on their perceived and potential competence to

study.

complete the course.

COURSE OVERVIEW: In the fast-changing world of therapeutics, prescribing and health care provision, prescribers, or those providing prescribing advice, may feel
under-equipped to meet Department of Health demands and the challenges that have emerged from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). A key
development for pharmacists has been the advent of independent pharmacist prescribers, new roles in medicines optimisation and supporting the management of long term
conditions. Pharmacists are continually being asked to broaden their role and contribution within primary healthcare.
The School of Pharmacy at Keele University has a reputation for providing stimulating education programmes for general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and other members
of the health care team. We offer a multidisciplinary approach that ensures our courses encompass a broad range of skills and are responsive to the changing health care
environment. We are closely in touch, through our advisors, with NHS development and service needs in primary care. We are recognised nationally as a centre of excellence in
the areas of prescribing and audit. For example, the Keele Centre for Medicines Optimisation is based within the School of Pharmacy, and has over 20 years of experience of
providing tailored, cost-effective, prescribing support and medicines management solutions to the NHS to allow the optimisation of medicines use. Choice and flexibility are key
features of the Prescribing Studies programme. Healthcare professionals may choose different pathways to reach the awards of Certificate, Diploma, and Master’s to meet their
own specific professional development needs and to advance their professional practice.

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