This 5 credit course published in conjunction with Chemist and Druggist Magazine accredits pharmacists to provide Medicines Use Reviews for patients under the new NHS pharmacy contract. Supporting modules cover a range of clinical topics. Assessment is through the presentation of case studies.

This 5 credit course enables pharmacists who have been carrying out Medicines Use Review to assure the quality of the service they are providing through peer review. Assessment in through the submission of case studies including two from the pharmacist’s personal practice.

The advent of the new pharmacy contract has seen community pharmacists extending their clinical role even further. This means that an understanding and interpretation of clinical tests is vital to help with diagnosis and monitoring of disease and drug therapy. In addition, enhanced services may well involve near patient testing in the pharmacy. This 10 credit course provides underpinning knowledge for a range of services that pharmacists may be offering or thinking about providing for patients.

Assessment is through multiple choice questions and the submission of case studies.

These are delivered by distance learning, allowing students to progress through the material at a pace that suits them. The materials will include case studies, portfolio and learning activities to complete to enhance understanding and application to practice. Assessment for 5 credit courses is through the completion and submission of case studies. Additional written work is required for 10 credit courses.

Pharmacists have always played an important part in providing support for patients with minor ailments. This is now recognised in the pharmacy contracts for England, Wales and for Scotland. Minor ailment services are one of the enhanced services in England and Wales and an essential part of pharmaceutical services in Scotland.

This introductory course explores the development of minor ailment services, with examples of schemes underway. Consideration is given to the evidence base for minor ailment interventions, the contractual, legal, governance and ethical issues involved in running a service and the skills and resources required. Issues related to multi-professional working in the context of minor ailments are explored.

These two courses in the minor ailment series are suitable for pharmacists and nurses. They consider specific types of minor ailment. One course explores infections and infestations while the other covers pain and injury. Together these two courses cover a large proportion of the conditions covered in a minor ailment service. The learning material provided helps with competent diagnosis and consideration of the clinical and cost-effective options for the management of individual patients presenting with these conditions.

Hypertension is a key health issue as it is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Its impact on causing future health problems is well established, as are the benefits of treatment. This course will support students to work more closely with patients to enhance the management of raised blood pressure through an improved understanding of the practical management issues and the evidence underpinning the therapeutics.

It is estimated that by 2010 there will be 2.5 million people in the UK diagnosed with diabetes. A further million may have developed the disease but will not have been diagnosed. The management of diabetes currently accounts for approximately 5% of NHS expenditure, but this will clearly rise, particularly as the complications include kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness and lower limb amputation. This course will help you to develop your skills and knowledge around the provision of evidence-based clinical care to patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

In 1998 21% of women and 19% of men in England were defined as obese. In addition, 32% of women and 46% of men were defined as overweight and the percentages of those classed as overweight or obese continues to rise.

Obesity is one of a quartet of symptoms that contribute to what is described as metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is now recognised as having a central role in increasing cardiovascular risk and as a precursor to the development of Type 2 diabetes.

The CPD study days are aimed at 2 distinct groups of health care workers: generalists and specialists.

‘Generalists’ are newly registered prescribers and others working in the area of medicines management who wish to update their therapeutic knowledge in an area which impacts on their own area of practice.

‘Specialists’ are prescribers working in the specialist area identified by the course. The course aims to advance their knowledge of new and developing pharmacological interventions within their specialist field and to allow them to consider the implications of these developments for the patients in their care and the wider health community.

The study days are interactive. Some sessions within the workshop involve ‘generalist’ and ‘specialist’ students working in separate groups.

Typical study days include:

• Introduction to the therapeutic topic
• Appraisal of current evidence base for prescribing in therapeutic area
• Recent development in prescribing
• Pharmacotherapeutics
• Medicines Management
• Appraisal of new developments
• Enhancements in medicines management.

Students are sent material to work through prior to the study day. Assessment for those generalist students who wish to take it is carried out on the day through the submission of case studies. Specialist students are required to complete case studies on the day and submit a further piece of written work for assessment.