New RPS foundation framework prepares pharmacists for prescribing

The new Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Foundation Pharmacist Framework has been published to support the future of pharmacy education and training across the UK.

The RPS have said that the new framework sets out the capabilities that will be needed by foundation pharmacists to meet the growing demand for pharmacists to provide increasingly complex clinical care across a range of settings. The framework has a greater focus on clinical capabilities including preparation for prescribing.

The RPS Foundation Pharmacist Framework has been developed with senior stakeholders on the Pharmacy Education Governance Oversight Board and informed by more than 800 responses from across the profession to a role analysis questionnaire. It is an important step towards designing the future curriculum, syllabus and assessment for foundation pharmacists across the UK.

Both the foundation curriculum and programmes will focus on the achievement of outcomes rather than the completion of set period of training.

Gail Fleming, RPS Director of Education, said:

“With the profession and pharmacy employers seeing an unprecedented demand for clinical knowledge and skills, it’s vital we move towards a sustainable, funded national model for foundation pharmacist training.”

Professor Peter Kopelman, Chair of the Pharmacy Education Governance Oversight Board, said:

“The RPS Foundation Pharmacist Framework is the first stage towards identifying standards applicable to the desired outcomes from Foundation training for all pharmacists across the UK. The Pharmacy Education Governance Oversight Board will continue to work with key stakeholders across the profession to assure the quality of a future curriculum and assessment strategy.”

Duncan Craig, Chair of the Pharmacy Schools Council said:

“There is a recognition that the profession can and should do more to support pharmacists at the early stages of their careers post-graduation, so we see the development of the RPS Foundation Pharmacist Framework as a significant step forward on this important pathway. We look forward to working with the RPS and other stakeholders to contribute to this process to the benefit of the profession and the public.”