National Medicines Information Training Course
Briefing Paper
Introduction
The National Medicines Information Training Course (NMITC) is an intensive 3-day residential training
course designed for pharmacy practitioners working as specialists in UK-based Medicines Information
(MI) services. The NMITC will equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to provide and
develop MI services, and is a suitable resource for staff who have completed (or are near completion)
of their early, or foundation years, of career development.
The NMITC is run by experienced UKMi specialists every 9 months, and involves lectures,
workshops, demonstrations and practical exercises. It provides an excellent opportunity for
participants to network with MI colleagues from across the UK. Please see the current programme for
full details of the course topics at
http://www.ukmi.nhs.uk/activities/manpowerTraining/default.asp?pageRef=10.
The NMITC acknowledges the usefulness of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Advanced Pharmacy
Framework (APF) (developed from the Advanced to Consultant Level Framework (ACLF)) as a
professional development framework applicable to all pharmacy practitioners across Great Britain. For
further information on the APF please visit http://www.rpharms.com/faculty-resources/advancedpharmacy-framework.asp.
The NMITC supports practitioners to develop advanced level practice in MI and several areas of the
APF. The knowledge and skills gained through attendance at the NMITC are essential for
practitioners wishing to become advanced practitioners in MI and recognised leaders of MI locally.
Consequently, all newly appointed local MI managers are required to attend the NMITC within 9
months of starting their post (as per UKMi standards). Attendees are required to have a permanent
role in MI and also be actively involved in building their professional portfolios.
Entry requirements
All NMITC applicants must have access to and be familiar with both the UKMi Workbook and the
Medicines Information Computer Aided Learning (MiCAL) programme which are considered essential
foundation learning tools.
Application requirements
The course administrator will notify all UKMI Directors (or their nominated deputy) when the course
nomination process is open. The regional MI centres will then communicate this to local MI service
leads in their region via email or post (a template letter will be available for regional MI centre use on
www.ukmi.nhs.uk to this effect).
Attendees must complete a nomination form and learning agreement which is then co-signed by their
line manager and submitted to their regional MI centre. Application to the NMITC does not guarantee
a place on the course. Successful applicants will be notified by the course administrator in writing and
requested to complete the pre-course checklist. Sufficient notice will be given to allow this to be
completed in time for course.
Any enquiries regarding course entry or application can be directed to the course administrator
(Sandra Wharton; s.wharton@nhs.net or generic email lnwh-tr.medinfo@nhs.net in her absence).
The NMITC programme Learning Outcomes
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Discuss UKMi strategy and MI’s role in the current NHS.
Develop and demonstrate the skills needed to search literature databases
effectively, in particular Medline and EMBASE (NHS Evidence platform used –
skills are transferable).
Assist in identifying and dealing with legal and ethical problems that may be
encountered in MI.
Discuss UKMi standards and peer review an enquiry and provide feedback.
Develop networking skills and practice sharing through sessions such as enquiry
sharing.
Identify and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a range of databases and
websites included in UKMi Essential Resources list.
Develop and promote an MI service (including identifying how service evaluation or
research could be used and developed in this context).
Discuss the factors to consider when providing written answers to MI enquiries.
Discuss the factors involved when developing a chemical entity into a marketed
medicine.
Identify key components of clinical trial design and apply these to a critical
appraisal of the literature
Discuss the value of using the Advanced Pharmacy Framework and GPhC CPD
entries to develop their professional practice, and that of their staff (latter is
required of all registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in GB)
Course content mapped to professional development framework
The following clusters are suggested for this course based upon the RPS Advanced Pharmacy
Framework (APF):
NMITC Session
UKMi – today & the future
Searching literature databases
(Medline & Embase) and workshop
Legal and ethical , and workshop
Clinical Governance within MI, and
workshop
Enquiry peer review workshop
Developing and promoting your MI
service – touching on research in
MI and workshop
From lab to market
Critical appraisal and workshop
Example APF Clusters
Leadership, Management
Management, Research & Evaluation, Collaborative
Working Relationships
Expert Professional Practice, Collaborative Working
Relationships, Management
Expert Professional Practice, Leadership, Management,
Collaborative Working Relationships
Expert Professional Practice, Collaborative Working
Relationships, Management
Expert Professional Practice, Leadership, Management,
Research & Evaluation, Collaborative Working
Relationships
Collaborative Working Relationships
Research & Evaluation, Collaborative Working
Relationships, Management
Please note that the course organisers will provide the venue (including break out rooms),
accommodation, meals, tutors and facilitators, and IT facilities as inclusive of the course fee.
Post course
All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course (including completion
of course feedback).
Attendees are encouraged to reflect on their role and MI service after attending the course to identify
areas that excel or require additional input to meet UKMi service standards.
MI Technicians should complete the accreditation process.
On completion of the course, if you are interested in assisting with future courses as a tutor or
facilitator, please email s.wharton@nhs.net to register your interest with the UKMi Workforce and
Development working group.
Briefing paper updated November 2014 on behalf of the UKMi Workforce and Development Group.