Welsh pilot offers multi-sector pharmacy technician apprenticeship
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is piloting a two-year apprenticeship that offers trainee pharmacy technicians experience in community, hospital and primary care.
The apprenticeship programme is currently being piloted for 11 pre-registration pharmacy technicians at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, HEIW announced last week (May 21).
Each week comprises two days' training in a hospital, two days in a community pharmacy and one study day. Students also go on a six-week primary care placement in their second year.
At the end of the two years, the pharmacy technician will qualify with a BTEC and an NVQ portfolio of evidence, HEIW explained.
Commenting on the announcement, Wendy Penny, HEIW head of pharmacy technician training, said: “Supporting pharmacy technicians to train across three pharmacy sectors will lead to a more sustainable and flexible workforce who understand the patient journey across healthcare settings.”
Last month, the Welsh government announced a £4.9 million investment to almost double the number of pre-registration pharmacist places across community, hospital and general practice. The initiative was launched as part of a UK-wide ‘Train, Work, Live’ campaign, which aims to attract more pre-regs to Wales.
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