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Join our successful prescribing programme and qualify as a non-medical prescriber.
All other applicants please apply now for June 2023!
Overview
This is a well-established and successful independent/supplementary prescribing programme for pharmacists,nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers and dietitians.
It is a part-time, blended learning programme which leads to you qualifying as an independent prescriber (community and primary carepharmacists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, podiatrists, paramedics andtherapeutic radiographers) or as a supplementary prescriber (diagnosticradiographers and dietitians). You develop the knowledge and skills topractise as prescribers and to meet the standards set by your respectiveprofessional/regulatory body. Available as eight or 12 months duration. Alsoavailable at Level 6 for nurses/midwives.
Is this programme right for me?
If you are a pharmacist, nurse, midwife, physiotherapist, podiatrist, radiographer or dietitian looking to become a prescriber this is the programme you are looking for.
We also run a 40-credit module as part of the University of Greenwich MSc Advanced Clinical Practice. If you are part of this Greenwich programme and have selected the Prescribing module then you do also need to complete our Prescribing Application form.
We are no longer recruiting for the Clinically Enhanced Prescribing Programme. If you are a pharmacist in the HEE LaSE area and want to improve your clinical skills and undertake a prescribing programme, we do offer a combination of one of our short course modules, Clinical Consultation Assessment and Diagnosis with our PGCert independent / Supplementary Prescribing. This is HEE funded for a limited time!
Entry points and application deadlines
We have two different programme lengths to choose from. You can study over the REGULAR eight months or choose the EXTENDED programme over 12 months. Priority for the regular length programme will be given to those with a clearly defined scope of practice. The extended programme is for all those who may prefer, or who will benefit from, a longer period of study. It is especially suitable for those studying at Level 6 and community pharmacists.
All application forms are to be emailed to MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich@ac.uk
Please do not post any application forms.
Cohorts for academic year (2022/2023):
- April 2023 (08 month version) - deadline 20 January 2023
- June 2023 (12 month version) - deadline 25 March 2023
You can find upcoming cohort dates under Course Structure
All dates and deliveries subject to change.
HEE LaSE Pharmacists Appling for Clinical Consultation Assessment and Diagnosis with Independent / Supplementary Prescribing
Your applications deadlines are different as you are also applying for our Clinical Consultation Assessment and Diagnosis Module. Please check the application form.
Teaching
The Prescribing Programme is delivered by distance learning with a total of nine in person study days at the University, plus 12 days clinical practice, overseen by a Practice Supervisor (nurses and midwives only)/designated prescribing practitioner (DPP).
About Medway School of Pharmacy
Medway School of Pharmacy is one of the few regional schools of pharmacy in the UK, a collaboration between the University of Kent and the University of Greenwich.
The impetus for the formation of the Medway School of Pharmacy came from the local community, who recognised the shortage of qualified pharmacists in all branches of the pharmacy profession in Kent.
The School is now recognised as an established school with accreditation from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Graduates are employed in health disciplines in Kent and the south-east and more broadly across the UK.
Accreditation
GPhC, NMC, HCPC
Entry requirements
- Registration with the appropriate professional/regulatory body (NMC, GPhC, PSNI or HCPC)
- Appropriate experience in the area of practice in which they will be prescribing
- The ability to study at academic level 6 or level 7
- Nurses and Midwives: At least one year'spost-registration clinical experience in the UK. This includes all nurse (level 1), midwife or SCPHN registrants (including NHS, self-employed or non-NHS employed registrants) at the point of application
- Pharmacists: At least twoyear'spost-registration clinical experience in the UK at the point of applying
- Allied Health Professionals (excluding Paramedics) At least three years' post-registration clinical experience in the UK at the point of applying
- Advanced Paramedic Practitioners: College of Paramedics recommend that paramedics are registered and qualified for at least five years with at least three years' relevant post-qualification experience in the clinical area in which they will be prescribing
- Advanced Paramedic Practitioners will normally have evidence in their application that they have completed or are working towards a Master's qualification (level 7
- Appropriate numeracy skills, clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management and planning and evaluation of care in their intended area of prescribing practice.
- Support from the sponsoring organisation confirming service need, indicating the necessary governance structures are in place (including clinical support, access to protected learning time and employer support where appropriate) to enable the students to undertake and be adequately supported throughout the programme. Access to appropriate supervised practice, and a prescribing budget to meet the costs of prescriptions on completion of training
- A named practice supervisor (nurses and midwives); designated medical practitioner (pharmacists); practice educator(AHPs), who will facilitate, supervise and support the student during theirclinical placement
Please notestudentsneed to be in active clinical practice to be on this programme of study.The longest period of time a student can be out of clinical practice while on the programme is 2 consecutiveweeks. This means that if you are on maternity leave, secondment or sabbatical,you are not currently eligible to undertake the programme of study. Please apply when you return to work.
While we welcome applications with a focus on aesthetics, we recommend a broader scope thanbotulinum.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevantexperience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
International students
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by countryand other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
English language entry requirements
The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.
For detailed information see ourEnglish language requirementsweb pages.
Need help with English?
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
Apply now
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Course structure
Duration: 8 or 12 months part-time
Take the Independent / Supplementary Prescribingprogramme as a standalone qualification; OR continue on to Medicines Optimisation. The prescribing programme can be used as either the first or second year of the Medicines Optimisation qualification.You will need to apply for the Prescribing Programmeseparately to the Medicines Optimisation Programme. Acceptance onto one programme does not guarantee acceptance onto the other.
On successful completion, the School notifies the appropriate professional / regulatory body that you have qualified as an independent / supplementary prescriber.
The dates for the cohorts that are coming up are as follows:
2022/2023 entry
Cohort 65(June 2023)
- Tuesday 06 June2023
- Wednesday 07 June2023
- Thursday 08 June2023
- Tuesday 05 September2023
- Wednesday 06 September2023
- Tuesday 21 November2023
- Wednesday 22 November2023
- Tuesday13 February2024
- Wednesday14February2024
Assessment days: 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 March 2024(studentswill be allocated one of these days once they commence onthe programme)
Application deadline25 March 2023
2023/2024entry
If you are applying for the40 credit module as part of theMSc Advanced Clinical Practice with the university of Greenwich, you need toapply for Cohort66. The deadlines and dates are below.
Cohort 66 (September 2023)
- Tuesday 19th September 2023
- Wednesday 20th September 2023
- Thursday 21st September 2023
- Tuesday 31st October 2023
- Wednesday 01st November 2023
- Thursday 02nd November 2023
- Tuesday 09th January 2024
- Wednesday 10th January 2024
- Thursday 11th January 2024
Assessment days: 29th 30th April, 01st, 02nd, 06th, 07th& 08th May 2024 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 02ndJune 2023
Cohort 67 (October 2023)
- Tuesday 10th October 2023
- Wednesday 11th October 2023
- Thursday 12th October 2023
- Tuesday 05th December 2023
- Wednesday 06th December 2023
- Tuesday 20th February 2024
- Wednesday 21st February 2024
- Tuesday 07th May 2024
- Wednesday 08th May 2024
Assessment days 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th& 21st June 2024(students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 07th July 2023
Cohort 68 (January 2024)
- Tuesday 16th January 2024
- Wednesday 17th January 2024
- Thursday 18th January 2024
- Tuesday 05th March 2024
- Wednesday 06th March 2024
- Thursday 07th March 2024
- Tuesday 21st May 2024
- Wednesday 22nd May 2024
- Thursday 23rd May 2024
Assessment days: 08th, 09th,10th, 11th& 12th July 2024 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 13th October 2023
Cohort 69 (February 2024)
- Tuesday 30th January 2024
- Wednesday 31st January 2024
- Thursday 01st February 2024
- Tuesday 23rd April 2024
- Wednesday 24th April 2024
- Tuesaday 16th July 2024
- Wednesday 17th July 2024
- Tuesday 01st October 2024
- Wednesday 02nd October 2024
Assessment days: 04th, 05th, 06th, 07th, 08th November 2024 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 24th November 2023
Cohort 70(April 2024)
- Tuesday 16th April 2024
- Wednesday 17th April 2024
- Thursday 18th April 2024
- Tuesday 25th June 2024
- Wednesday 26th June 2024
- Thursday 27th June 2024
- Tuesday 10th September 2024
- Wednesday 11th September 2024
- Thursday 12th September 2024
Assessment days: 29th, 30th, 31st, October, 05th & 06th November 2024 (students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 19th January 2024
Cohort 71(June 2024)
- Tuesday 04th June 2024
- Wednesday 05th June 2024
- Thursday 06th June 2024
- Tuesday 03rd September 2024
- Wednesday 04th September 2024
- Tuesday 19th November 2024
- Wednesday 20th November 2024
- Tuesday 11th February 2025
- Wednesday 12th February 2025
Assessment days: 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th& 19th March 2025(students will be allocated one of these days once they commence on the programme).
Application deadline 15th March 2024
You need to be available to attend all of the study days. All Study daysare delivered in person at our Medway Campus.
You will be allocated a PAPP date on one of the listed assessment days. Pharmacists will need to attend the Medway Campus for the PAPPassessment in person.
Please ensure you are available for all the study and assessment daysbefore applying.
These dates are subject to change.
Modules
The programme consists of four compulsory modules at either level 7 or level 6.
Level 7
- Non-medical Prescribing in Context (15 credits)- nurses and AHPs
OR
- Non-medical Prescribing in Context for pharmacists(15 credits)-pharmacists only
AND
- Safe and Effective Prescribing (15 credits)
- Consultation and Decision Making (15 credits)
- Putting Prescribing into Practice (15 credits)
Level 6
- Background to Non-medical Prescribing (10 credits)
- Prescribing Safely and Effectively (10 credits)
- Embedding Prescribing in your Consultations (10 credits)
- The Practice of Prescribing (15 credits)
Teaching
Teaching and assessment
Each module and its assessments are applied to your scope ofpractice. All of the assessments are different in focus and require differentthings from you. You are given feedback on your work before your nextassignment is due to be submitted.
Module 1
Case Study: written assignment using a patient case todemonstrate a systematic understanding of relevant frameworks, includingbudgetary constraints at national and local level.
Legislative Essay: written assignment reviewing the changesin legislation in relation to prescribing and the impact in regards to accountabilityand responsibility.
Module 2
Exam: includes sections on Numeracy, Using the BNF andPharmacology pre-seen essay element to demonstrate the required knowledge,understanding and skills.
Module 3
Evidence Based Medicine: written assignment analysing theprimary evidence as it applies to a specific patient within your scope ofpractice.
Practical Assessment of Prescribing Practice: ahigh-fidelity clinical situation tailored to your individual scope of practice.
Module 4
Narrative: written assignment used to explain how yourportfolio demonstrates that you have met the requirements for the programme.
Portfolio of evidence: demonstrating how youhave met the prescribing competencies, learning outcomes and professionalrequirements for your regulatory body (NMC, HCPC, GPhC)
The type of assessments are the same for each version of the modules (level 6 or level 7).
Programme aims
This programme aims to:
- prepare pharmacists to practice as independent/ supplementary prescribers
- prepare nurses and midwives to practice as independent/ supplementaryprescribers
- develop the knowledge and skills required by an allied health professional to practice as a supplementary prescriber
- meet the standards set by the respective professional or regulatory body as required within the legislative framework.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the legal and professional framework for non-medical prescribing
- local health service provision and systems
- national and local frameworks for medicines use
- national and local budgetary constraints on prescribing
- models of consultation
- principles of diagnosis
- applied advanced physiology
- pathophysiology, natural history and progression of defined conditions
- changes to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in certain patient groups
- principles of monitoring.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in:
- reviewing and critically evaluating best available evidence relevant to a specified area of prescribing practice, synthesising information from key sources and databases
- integrating previous learning with professional skills and expertise to synthesise innovative approaches to implementing extended independent/supplementary prescribing in practice
- further developing the skills to review and critically analyse your own learning and apply this to enhance your role as a non-medical prescriber
- making sound judgements about prescribing issues in the absence of complete data and communicating conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in:
- consultation and medical history taking
- physical examination of patients to aid diagnosis and monitoring
- interpretation of medical documentation with an understanding of risks and benefits of incomplete data
- monitoring patient response against objectives set within clinical management plans
- recording prescribing actions and outcomes and the evidence base behind them contemporaneously in patient records.
Transferable skills
You will gain the following transferable skills:
- critical self-reflection and the ability to enhance professional competence on the basis of feedback from self and others
- communicating with clarity in both the academic and professional setting to a range of audiences and using a variety of approaches
- effectively managing and presenting complex information using a comprehensive range of learning resources
- autonomous learning and accessing professional resources including others as appropriate.
Fees and Funding
Additional costs
Fees
See the Medway School of Pharmacy website for postgraduate fees.
For more fee information, please email MSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk
Funding
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
- University and external funds
- Scholarships specific tothe academic school delivering this programme.
Scholarships
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarships
Which one's right for you?
Some other similar courses you may be interested in.
- General Pharmacy Practice - PCert, PDip, MScPart-time onlyMedway
- Medicines Optimisation - PCert, PDip, MScPart-time onlyMedway
- Pharmacy - PhDFull-time or part-timeMedway
- Pharmacy (Biochemistry and Cell Biology) - PhDFull-time or part-timeMedway
- Pharmacy (Chemistry and Drug Delivery) - PhDFull-time or part-timeMedway
- Pharmacy (Health Services Research) - PhDFull-time or part-timeMedway
- Pharmacy (Pharmacology and Physiology) - PhDFull-time or part-timeMedway
- Pharmacy - Associate Postgraduate Student Programme - Full-time onlyMedway
Independent rankings
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, over 85% of ourAllied health professions, dentistry, nursing and pharmacy research*was classified as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ for outputand environment.
*Joint submission withUniversity of Greenwich.
Research
Research areas
Chemistry and drug delivery
This group has laboratories with dedicated state-ofthe art drug delivery, nanotechnology, spectroscopy, chromatography and organic synthesis facilities. It brings together researchers in medicinal chemistry and drug design, nanotechnology and materials science, drug delivery and pharmaceutics encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to research. Research covers synthesis and biological evaluation of potential anti-cancer agents, structurebased drug design, QSAR predication of ADMET properties, controlled release, particle engineering, powder technology, pharmaceutical technology, and novel drug delivery systems, with a focus on respiratory drug delivery.
Biological sciences
This group is housed in recently refurbished laboratories with dedicated state-of-the-art molecular biological, electrophysiological, tissue culture and microscopy facilities. The research is divided into four main themes; infectious diseases and allergy; neuroscience; renal and cardiovascular physiology; and pharmacology. Examples of current work include: investigation of the use of non-pathogenic virus ‘pseudotypes’ to study pathogenic RNA, study of the properties of neuronal potassium channels and their modulation and the development of new therapies for patients that have developed acute kidney injury in collaboration with a major pharmaceutical company.
Pharmacy practice
This group conducts research in two areas: public health and medicines optimisation, with a particular focus on cardiovascular diseases and mental health. Work in public health includes studies in physical exercise, alcohol, cardiovascular screening and spirometry testing, plus pharmacovigilance. Studies in medicines optimisation include work in dementia, bipolar disorder and stroke, with an emphasis on the patient perspective.
Staff research interests
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Careers
There is a high and rising demand for a range of healthcare professionals to qualify as non-medical prescribers. There are career opportunities for both non-medical prescribing nurse practitioners and pharmacists in GP surgeries or other primary care settings and enhanced options for radiographers, physiotherapists, podiatrists and dietitians with the prescribing qualification.
Professional recognition
Accreditation with the GPhC, HCPC or the NMC as a non-medical prescriber
Study support
Postgraduate resources
Postgraduate students have access to all the facilities at the Medway School of Pharmacy, including clinical skills labs and a ‘simulation man’. As the School of Pharmacy is a joint venture between the two universities, students have access to facilities at Kent’s Medway and Canterbury campuses, and the University of Greenwich.
Distance learning
While on a distance learning programme you need to be ableto organise your time carefully and negotiate with your workplace on how thisprogramme will work for you and your employer. We will provide you with acomprehensive list of dates for submission to help you plan your placement timeand to help you negotiate study leave so you can complete your assignments andportfolio.
You will already possess most, if not all, of the requiredskills such as navigating around a webpage or attaching a file and uploadingthis to a website or email. The academic skills required will depend on yourlevel of study and how recently you last studied. The universities have goodresources that you can access to help you rediscover or reinvigorate theseskills as needed.
Getting to grips with the virtual learningenvironment (Moodle) early will be really useful to you. This is where thecourse is delivered. You will be able to get feedback at regular intervals tohelp you with your assignments, access practice quizzes and examples of theassessments, revisit lecture material when it suits you and download CourseStudy Guides & Workbooks for each of the four modules within the programme.
Guides
Please have a look at the following guides:
- Practice Supervisor Guide
- DMP Guide (PDF 490KB)
- Student Information Sheet (PDF 606KB)
Global Skills Award
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on ourGlobal Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Apply now
To apply please use the forms below:
Allied Health Professionals (AHP) application form
Nurses, Midwives and Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) application form
Contact us
United Kingdom/EU enquiries
Admissions enquiries
Please email our administrative team onMSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk
Subject enquiries
Please email our administrative team onMSOPPGTAdmin@greenwich.ac.uk
International student enquiries
Enquire online
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk