Prescribing & Medicines Management
Issue no 3, p12
May/June 2003

Features

Training for repeat dispensing

Pharmacists involved in the repeat dispensing pilots — "the pathfinder" sites — can benefit from a new training programme. The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education has worked with the Department of Health, the Prescription Pricing Authority and other organisations to devise a multidisciplinary training programme to support the implementation of repeat dispensing in England.

Following a series of "train the trainers" sessions, CPPE is now rolling out the training for the repeat dispensing arrangements. The training materials were released at the beginning of April for local sessions while awaiting final checks and verification after the regulations were set. The programme has three components — a pre–workshop briefing pack, workshop and post-workshop materials. The workshop primarily uses small group, problem-based learning and is being facilitated by experienced trainers and CPPE tutors in the pathfinder sites.

Janice Mason–Duff, the programme writer said: "It has been particularly challenging because of changes and delays to the NHS regulations, the need for local facilitation of workshops and the introduction of a new web-based booking system. We ran four 'train the trainers' sessions at various locations in England to brief the local trainers and repeat dispensing leads. The materials and handouts are presented as booklets so that the participants can keep them for reference."

CPPE now has 41 sessions booked onto the system representing 18 primary care trusts. Feedback from the 10 sessions that have been run has been positive and include comments such as "whole course sits well together" and "provides a framework to implement repeat dispensing". Benefits identified include "greater involvement in looking after patients" and "better relationships between patients, GPs and local surgeries".

CPPE plans to continue its support for repeat dispensing by producing resources such as "Commonly Asked Questions about Repeat Dispensing".

Further details about this programme and other initiatives related to the NHS Plan can be found on the website (www.cppe.man.ac.uk).