Clinical Pharmacist
Since 2019, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan pharmacists have been working in general practice settings where they can be employed directly by a GP practice or via the Primary Care Network (PCN). Funding for pharmacists employed in general practice can be accessed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).
Clinical pharmacists works directly with patients and involves carrying out medical reviews, proactively managing, assessing and treating patients.
Clinical pharmacists work with, and alongside, the General Practice team – they take on responsibility for patients with chronic diseases and undertake clinical medication reviews to support people who need to take medication, especially for the elderly, people in care homes and those with multiple illnesses or conditions.
Clinical pharmacists have expert knowledge of medicines for specific disease areas.
Training and Qualifications
To become a clinical pharmacist you must first qualify as a pharmacist by complete a Masters degree in Pharmacy and 1 year placement. Upon completing this, you can register as a pharmacist General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and legally practice as a pharmacist.
To specialise further and train as a clinical pharmacist you complete further training called the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP). This is only applicable if you are under a PCN ARRS funded role.
Career opportunities and progression
Advanced Clinical Practitioner
News and Resources
Educational Supervisor Programme
The Educational Supervisor Training Programme is open to all registered pharmacy professionals whether a pharmacist or pharmacy technician who are responsible for overall supervision and management of a specified trainee’s educational progress during a period of training, placement, or a series of placements. This includes formal assessment and sign off. Modules Key Features: Requirements to…
Pitstop Diabetes Update Course – Open to ARRS Clinical roles
Open to any ARRS clinical staff including Pharmacists, Paramedics, Physician Associate, Pharmacy Technician, Nurse Associate, Dietitians & Advanced Clinical Practitioners. Please submit the details requested below to obtain a code. This 4-hour programme has been developed to update healthcare professionals who deliver the essential primary care services for people with type 2 diabetes and non-diabetic…
Non-PCN NHS England funded places for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
BackgroundNHS England commissions the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) to provide compulsory training for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians whose salaries are being supported with the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) finding. This training pathway is the Primary care pharmacy education pathway. NHS England has agreed that places remaining for a cohort not taken by…
Mental Health in Primary Care Course for ARRS Staff
The NW London Training hub have been working with the University of Hertfordshire to provide a new course to help with some extra knowledge around different areas of Mental Health within Primary Care and the patients they may interact with. The course has one option; a 2 day course open to Clinical ARRS roles such…
Pitstop Foundation Level Diabetes Course – Open to some Clinical ARRS roles
After the initial scoping and allocations for this piece of work, this is now open to any ARRS clinical staff including Pharmacists, Paramedics, Physician Associate, Pharmacy Technician, Nurse Associate, Dietitians & Advanced Clinical Practitioners. Please submit the details requested below to obtain a code. This 3-day multidisciplinary diabetes foundation course focuses on the core diabetes…