Personal and professional development

Principles of effective history taking when prescribing

An accurate patient history provides a foundation for assessing the best options for patients and preventing errors. This article outlines principles and approaches that can help prescribers to gather information effectively.…

Test yourself: communication and person-centred practice for prescribing

An opportunity to test your knowledge on core prescribing skills and approaches.…

Northern Ireland doubles number of pharmacy undergraduates since 2020

The Pharmacy Futures Campaign NI was launched in 2020 to build capacity across the pharmacy workforce.…

Introduction to the prescribing consultation

A consultation provides prescribers with an opportunity to effectively gather relevant information from an individual to make a probable diagnosis and reach a shared decision about the next steps. This article introduces the components of an effective consultation and how you can develop skills and …

First RPS honour awarded for pharmacists who die serving the profession

Nina Barnett, consultant pharmacist for older people at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, was posthumously honoured with the Daniel Thomas Award at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Annual Conference.…

How to design optimal induction pathways for pharmacy professionals

Important considerations and advice to support pharmacy professionals in creating and developing effective structured induction pathways.…

Communication techniques for prescribing

Effective communication is central to the prescribing process and is a skill that can be continuously improved. This article introduces a selection of models and approaches that can help prescribers structure their consultations in an effective and patient-centred way.…

Geraldine McCaffrey: ‘The advances we’re making in Wales are really exciting’

The recently elected chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Welsh Pharmacy Board talks to The Pharmaceutical Journal about the Society’s role in assisting the evolving workforce in Wales.…

BGMA backs ‘lifecycle adjustment’ levy scheme for branded medicines

The government has proposed a ‘lifecycle adjustment’ mechanism, which would levy different rates on branded medicines sold to the NHS, dependent on their age and competition in the market.…

This is a drill: the simulations training next-generation pharmacists

From artificial intelligence to virtual reality, schools of pharmacy are making use of the latest in simulation technology to prepare future pharmacists for their digitally-enabled careers as prescribers.…