Independent Prescribing
Are you considering applying for one of the Independent Prescribing courses? Vicky Webb from the Teach and Treat Scheme has pulled together some resources to help you identify a suitable DPP.
Here you can find some resources to help you identify a suitable DPP so you can undertake your prescribing course.
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of identifying a DPP within your network, as those are the relationships that will continue beyond completing your prescribing qualification. As we move towards there being an NHS-commissioned prescribing service in community pharmacy, strong relationships with local GP surgeries will be invaluable.
With that in mind, your first step should be to look at this document. It maps all Devon community pharmacies to their local PCN and lists all the practices within that PCN. Find your pharmacy (or the one you work in most often if you’re a locum), and see which practices are listed next to it. Most practices will list their practice manager on their website or the nominated lead pharmacist might be able to help you make contact. If you have an NHS email it’s even easier because you can search the name of the practice manager and find their email.
Also, think carefully about what contacts you may already have, is there a prescriber in another setting you liaise with frequently? Is there a colleague you met at a learning event that might be able to support? Or someone you know that now works in a different setting alongside prescribers?
The main learning points from the Teach and Treat pilot is that we know a suitable DPP can be a different profession in another healthcare setting. And they’re absolutely out there, it’s just knowing how best to make contact. Hopefully, these resources will help you to do that.
Further resources:
