Members of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) have visited students at the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) School of Pharmacy in Preston.
During the visit, the council members learnt about how the university’s Comensus group initiative gives pharmacy students the opportunity to gain practical experience of working with patients, carers and health professionals during their degree.
Nigel Clarke, chair of the GPhC, said insights gained during the visit helped council members understand how patient and public engagement and inter-professional learning could be successfully integrated into a pharmacy degree course.
He said: “It was a real pleasure to meet all of the students, patients and staff during our visit to the School of Pharmacy.
“It was particularly useful to see the students having a range of opportunities to learn in a multi-professional environment and directly with patients, as these are key themes we are exploring during our current review of the standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists.”
Final-year pharmacy student Amirah Hussain said working with patients “helps to bring our lectures to life”.
“Going into the profession, I have a greater understanding of patient needs and the ways to approach people,” she said.