Improving prescribing supervision access and capacity: Teach and Treat clinics pilot

The challenge: Independent Prescribing training and supervision requirements

Two of the key requirements for completing independent prescribing training are:

• To have a prescribing learning environment with an appropriate patient group
• Supervision by an experienced prescriber called a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP).

As part of the prescribing course, trainee prescribers typically need to complete 90 hours of appropriate practice-based learning, with supervision from their DPP.

There is a particular challenge for community pharmacists learning to be prescribers, as prescribing services are not routinely present in the setting. Community pharmacists must often therefore seek a prescribing learning environment and supervision from a DPP in another organisation, such as secondary care or general practice.

One of the aims of the teach and treat clinic pilot was to test this model as a way of supporting cross-sectoral support for prescribing training.

Novel intervention

The aim was to create supervision capacity within an Integrated Care System (ICS) that is then maintained, with the system supporting the ongoing training and development of its workforce.  

The learning that can be taken from this pilot will help to develop the evidence base for effective interventions to build prescribing training access and improve supervision access and capacity. 

Pilot Results 

This pilot explored a range of factors relating to prescribing training, including suitable areas of clinical practice, enablers to cross-sectoral supervision and supervision ratios.

The systems piloting the Teach and Treat clinics were:

• Gloucestershire
• BNSSG (Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire)
• BSW (Bath, Swindon, Wiltshire)
• Somerset
• Devon
• Cornwall

Teach and Treat pilot results

The pilot links with other exciting initiatives, such as expanding independent prescribing capacity across the NHS and improving multi-professional supervision access and capacity.

Find out more about Independent Prescribing

We continue to develop our funded training offers for pharmacists aiming to become independent prescribers. Find out about the current provision on our website.