More than 200 pharmacists have registered to learn about the "fundamentals" of working with GPs, the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) has revealed.

All 230 spaces on its 13-week online course had been filled in two weeks, with “lots” of community pharmacists among those taking part, CPPE regional manager Ceinwen Mannall said during a C+D Twitter chat earlier this month (July 16).

The course launched in May and was designed as an “introduction for community or hospital pharmacists and technicians looking to move sector”, said CPPE, which is also responsible for training the 250 clinical pharmacists expected to work in GP practices as part of a £15 million NHS England pilot.

Ms Mannall said CPPE would wait until September before launching another course on the fundamentals of working with GPs. The online programme was focused on a range on topics, including NHS structures, general practice, medicines optimisation and prescribing data, CPPE said on its website.

Pharmacist Babir Malik, who is taking the course, said he was finding it “really interesting”. “Analysing prescribing data is the most interesting thing so far,” he told C+D.

Mr Malik said he was not considering applying for the NHS England pilot because he was "happy in my current role", but he wished "best of luck to others".

NHS England's pilot will start this winter and will involve one senior pharmacist and five clinical pharmacists being installed in pilot sites across England for three years. Pharmacists interested in taking part should apply directly to the pilot sites once they have been announced by NHS England.
 

Will you apply to take part in the NHS England pilot?

We want to hear your views, but please express them in the spirit of a constructive, professional debate. For more information about what this means, please click here to see our community principles and information