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Letters to the Editor
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Drug misuse
Clarification regarding certificate course
From Mrs D. K. Roberts, FRPharmS
Best practice guidance, produced by the National Treatment Agency for
Substance Misuse, on the commissioning
of pharmaceutical services for drug misusers, is most welcome and timely (PJ, 1 April, p378).
I would, however, welcome the opportunity to clarify part of the information
included in the feature. I refer to the Royal College of General Practitioners
certificate in the management of drug misuse that was completed by pharmacists
taking part in the Lewisham local pharmaceutical services pilot scheme.
The open learning pack — “Opiate treatment: supporting pharmacists
for improved patient care” from the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate
Education is not an integral part of the RCGP certificate as suggested
in the news feature. At the time that the Lewisham pharmacists undertook
the RCGP certificate, pharmacists wishing to undertake part 2 of the
RCGP certificate were able to claim exemption from part 1 provided that
they were able to prove recent completion of the CPPE’s open learning
pack.
It is expected that e-learning modules for part 1 of the RCGP certificate
will be accessible to pharmacists, nurses and GPs later this year. From
then on pharmacists wishing to undertake part 2 of the RCGP certificate
will have the choice of either completing the part 1 of the RCGP certificate
online, or claiming exemption by providing proof of completion of the
new CPPE open learning package on drug misuse.
Kay Roberts
Lead Pharmacist
Royal College of General Practitioners’ Substance Misuse Unit
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal