New school to support the region’s pharmacy workforce

Health Education England, east of England is building an expanded team to work in our new pharmacy and medicines optimisation school. The school will support the creation of a skilled and flexible pharmacy workforce delivering safe, sustainable and value based medicines optimisation.

Working closely with the post-graduate medical school we will launch a new foundation pharmacist trainee programme in July 2022. The innovative, blended education programme will be delivered in collaboration with employers supporting trainees’ 12 month placement experience in hospitals and GP surgeries, with an optional learning offer for community pharmacy trainees.

"We are delighted to be offering a flexible, multi-sector, multi-professional foundation pharmacist programme maximising peer support, utilising the national e-Portfolio and supported by six foundation facilitators in localities across the east of England."

Helen Johnson, Reporting Associate Dean for Pharmacy

Increasing pharmacy technician training

We have expanded the number of pharmacy technician pre-registration trainees commencing their two-year apprenticeship programme to 105 in the east of England this year. Trainees gain experience in community, general practice or hospital practice, developing medicines skills alongside studying for a certificate of higher education in pharmacy technician practice. Trainees can join the programme straight from school or use the programme to create a rewarding career as a pharmacy technician.

You can find out more about pharmacy as a career and training for pharmacy teams on our new east of England pharmacy website pages.