Interim Foundation Pharmacist programme launched

A new education and training programme to support the 2019/20 cohort of pre-registration pharmacists has been announced by Health Education England (HEE).

The Interim Foundation Pharmacist programme (IFPP) will be a twelve month course starting from September 2020. This fully funded programme will support pharmacists in the early stages of their careers through a structured work-based approach that embeds knowledge, skills, abilities, values, attitudes and beliefs in their practice. This in turn will lead to pharmacists who are more confident in their clinical abilities and more adaptable in working across health and care sectors.

This has been introduced to help to address the limitations of the current training pathway and in particular to improve and enhance the clinical skills necessary to deliver safe and effective patient-centred care.

Professor Sheona MacLeod, Acting Director of Education and Quality and Executive Medical Director, said:

"I am extremely pleased to be able to make this announcement which was part of HEE’s mandate from the DHSC last year. This foundation approach should ensure the capability of pharmacists to practise confidently within 21st century healthcare settings. It is key that we collaboratively and proactively support this cohort of trainees, to ensure they have a good experience of joining the profession in the coming months."

We will be working with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and our system partners to build support around the current cohort of pre-registration pharmacists to build the best possible future for them and the pharmacy profession as a whole.

Further info https://www.hee.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-information-pharmacists-pharmacy-technicians