Title
Code
Level
Credit rating
Pre-requisites
Type of module
Aims
Learning
outcomes/objectives
Foundations of General Practice
CLM30
7
60 credits
Registered UK pharmacists.
Work based learning.
To demonstrate a systematic understanding of
the principles of pharmacy practice; to
acquire the relevant expertise to deliver
safe and effective pharmaceutical care
across the spectrum of general practice; to
critically review and monitor the drug
treatment of patients in order to provide
competent advice on the safe and effective
use of medicines in the context of
individual patient care.
At the end of this module practitioners will
be able to:
1. Critically discuss the organisation and
structure of the NHS and the role of the
pharmacist working across sectors to
deliver improved patient outcomes
2. Identify, prioritise and resolve the
medicines management needs of patients,
carers and other social and health care
professionals
3. Consult effectively with patients, carers
and the multi-disciplinary health care
team, respecting diversity and
confidentiality
4. Describe the principles of clinical
governance and effectively relate them to
the practice of pharmacy
5. Independently develop their clinical
pharmacy knowledge and skills in order to
identify, prioritise and resolve complex
pharmaceutical problems in a range of
common conditions
6. Critically review the overall management
and monitoring of patients with a range of
common disease states
7. Recognise the evidence-based approach to
management of a range of common conditions
and apply to individualised patient care
8. Demonstrate a systematic approach to
medicines management for patients with a
range of common conditions
9. Apply pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic
principles to the design of appropriate
drug regimens
10.
Demonstrate a proactive and critical
approach to self development and continue
to advance their knowledge and
understanding through continuing
Content
Teaching and
learning strategies
professional development and life long
learning
The module provides underpinning knowledge
relating to the structure and function of
the NHS by highlighting the strengths and
weaknesses of past structures. The focus
will then turn to the recent NHS reforms and
how the current structure deals with key
issues such as prioritisation and rationing
of health. The syllabus will further cover
the concepts of medicines management and
medication review. The relationship between
health care practitioners and patients will
be explored to highlight strategies to
improve adherence and the safe and
appropriate use of medicines. Ethical and
professional issues as they relate to the
provision of pharmacy practice and the safe
and effective use of medicines, in
particular practitioner competence CPD, will
be examined as will the role of clinical
governance within healthcare and the
profession. The interpretation, evaluation
and application of laboratory data, clinical
pharmacology, adverse drug events,
parenteral drug therapy, fluid and
electrolyte balance and extemporaneous
production will be examined. The
practitioner will be expected to describe
and evaluate the therapeutic options
available to manage a range of common
clinical conditions. For example, the
treatment of common gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, central nervous system,
endocrine and respiratory disorders,
antibiotic prophylaxis, anticoagulation and
the management of pain and nausea and
vomiting. Practitioners will be required to
document and discuss the clinical
contributions they make to patient care with
their practice tutor. This will further
explore their understanding and management
of the range of common clinical conditions
included in this syllabus. A unique feature
of this module will be the requirement to
review an instance of medication risk, in
order to identify both active and latent
failures inherent within the care setting
and to recommend approaches to minimising
risk in the future.
This module is managed and assessed in
collaboration with the Joint Programme
Board.
Guided, self directed and self-managed
learning is actively encouraged, supported
by a range of resources including the
library facilities at their practice base;
the London School of Pharmacy based MLE and
the world wide web. Practitioners will be
expected to develop critical evaluation
skills and undertake experiential learning
under the guidance of educational
facilitators in defined practical rotations.
A series of regular learning sets will
underpin the module and allow contact
between practitioners and academics, in
addition to practice tutors. Although formal
teaching will be minimal, it will include
tutorials given by expert pharmacists or
clinicians.
In the learning sets, practitioners will
discuss, with an academic facilitator,
evidence from their portfolio. In addition,
practitioners will be supported through
regular timetabled meetings to discuss their
personal development with their practice
and, if necessary, academic tutor.
Learning support
The portfolio of evidence, the opportunity
to work with pharmacists from different
practice backgrounds, as well as colleagues
from within the multi-disciplinary team,
will provide practitioners with full
opportunities for engagement with the CPD
process.
E-based resources will be vital.
Practitioners will have access to formative
case studies intended to assist them in
applying theoretical knowledge in the
context of the care of patients.
Practitioners will be expected to draw on
current medical literature available in both
their local medicines information centres,
as well as their post-graduate library. In
addition the following reference sources
should be drawn on to provide the
underpinning knowledge (current editions):
UKMI Workbook, MiCAL (a computer based
learning resource)
Rules and Guidance for pharmaceutical
manufacturers and distributors, ‘Orange
Guide’ MHRA
Beaney, Quality Assurance of Aseptic
Preparation Services, London Pharm Press
Allwood M, Stanley A, Wright P, The
Cytotoxic Handbook, Ratcliffe Medical Press
Clinical Medicine, Kumar P and Clark M.
Elsevier & Saunders
Assessment tasks
Davidson’s Principles and Practice of
Medicine, Haslett, Chilvers, Boon, Colledge
and Hunter, Churchill Livingstone
Applied therapeutics: the clinical use of
drugs. Young, Koda-Kimble, Kradjan &
Guglielmo, App Ther Inc
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Walker R
& Edwards C, Churchill Livingstone
Relevant guidelines including National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) guidelines.
There are two sets of assessments:
foundation and clinical. Foundation
assessments may be undertaken 12 or 18
months after starting the module. Clinical
assessments are normally undertaken 18
months after starting the module.
The range of foundation assessments is
designed to test the knowledge, skills and
attitudes of practitioners. The assessments
to be used are (with equal weighting):
1) Foundation Objective Structured Clinical
Examination (at 12 or 18 months) (50%)
(LOs 2-3,5-9)
2) Competency based portfolio review which
includes evidence of practitioner
development across a breadth of practice
(12 & 18 months) Pass/Fail (LOs
1,2,4,6,7,9,10)
3) Foundation Multiple Choice Questions (at
12 or 18 months) (50%) (LOs 6,8,9)
The OSCE will be a criterion referenced with
practitioners required to pass 5/8 of the
available work-stations in order to pass the
module.
The range of clinical assessments is
designed to test the clinical knowledge,
skills and attitudes of the practitioners.
The assessments to be used are (with equal
weighting):
1) Clinical Objective Structured Clinical
Examination (18 months) 50% (LOs 2-3,5-9)
2) Clinical Multiple choice questions 50%
(LOs 6,8,9)
3) Competency based portfolio review which
includes demonstrating application of
medicines management to patients with a
defined range of conditions Pass/Fail
(LOs 1,2,4,6,7,9,10)
Brief description of
module content
and/or aims (maximum
80 words)
Area examination
board to which
module relates
Module
team/authors/coordin
ator
Semester offered,
where appropriate
Site where delivered
Date of first
approval
Date of last
revision
Date of approval of
this version
Version number
Replacement for
previous module
Field for which
module is acceptable
and status in that
field
Course(s) for which
module is acceptable
and status in that
course
School home
The OSCE will be a criterion referenced with
practitioners required to pass 5/8 of the
available work-stations in order to pass the
module.
This module focuses on the principles of
pharmaceutical care and the core knowledge
and skills required of a general level
clinical pharmacy practitioner. It requires
the practitioner to apply these to a range
of patients that reflect the scope of
general pharmacy practice. In order to
achieve this, practitioners will be required
to apply a range of clinical and scientific
knowledge to solve common, medication
related, problems.
It also allows the practitioner to explore
and evaluate drug therapy in a number of
common disease states and associated
surgical conditions. This will require an
understanding of the current treatment
options, including the current evidence
base, available to manage these conditions.
A particular emphasis will be placed on
minimising the risk associated with
medication use. Another feature of this
module is the proactive engagement required
of practitioners with the process of
continuing professional development.
AEB/CEB PGDip GPP
Mr R Scott, Ms A Conway
Not applicable
Not applicable
February 2010
February 2010
1
CL31 and CLM32
Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy
Practice
Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy
Practice; compulsory module
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
External examiner
Mrs K Hodson