_______________________________________________________________________

School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular

Sciences Module Learning Handbook

PYM62 Preparing for Pharmacy

Practice

Module Leader: Dr Greg Scutt

C313, email: G.Scutt@brighton.ac.uk
Introduction
This module will focus on the transition from pharmacy student to pre-registration pharmacist.
Students will be provided with a range of teaching and practical activities to enhance their skills in
consultation and delivery of pharmaceutical care, notably in patients with multiple pathologies,
multiple drug therapies, and in a special patient groups. This module will also provide students with a
critical analysis of current and future models of healthcare, error theory, medication safety, and future
issues facing the NHS. There will be a clear emphasis on science informing clinical decision-making.
Aims
The overarching aims of the module are to:
1) Discuss the current roles and responsibilities of pharmacists and other members of the healthcare
team, at various stages of their career, in the context of a changing NHS
2) Critically examine and develop the students’ personal pharmaceutical care process
3) Introduce the student to complex pharmaceutical care scenarios and clinical decision making (*see
below)
4) Critically examine patient safety, error theory, and government policy on safety and error (including
the Francis report)
5) Develop advanced consultation skills (patient beliefs, patient’s agenda, adherence, appropriate use
of medicines)
6) Provide an awareness of the importance of research and audit in healthcare, and the value of a
scientific approach to understanding disease and effective treatment
7) Debate complex ethical and current healthcare issues such as antimicrobial resistance and the
ageing population
*Complex scenarios
- Patients at the extremes of age (paediatrics and older people)
- Patients with co-morbidities (multi-system disease)
- Those approaching the end of their life
- Those on multiple interacting medications
- Those on medications with a narrow therapeutic window
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module the student will be able to:
1. Identify medicines-related problems (MRP) and basic pharmaceutical care needs in complex
patients.
2. Evaluate clinical pharmacy interventions in complex patients in terms of evidence of safety, efficacy
and cost effectiveness. Refer and escalate care appropriately
3. Demonstrate the use of scientific principles (including pharmacogenomics, pharmacodynamics and
complex pharmacokinetics) and physiological data to inform clinical therapeutic decisions
4. Demonstrate autonomous planning, implementation, documentation and communication of a
complex patient’s pharmaceutical care needs through construction of a care plan
5. Work effectively in a team and provide support, feedback and guidance to fellow members of that
team.
6. Assess the factors that contribute to error in healthcare, and the factors that compromise patient
safety. Understand the processes and systems that improve and safeguard patient safety (including
education).
7. Assess and debate the current issues that threaten the health of the population, and critically
examine how the policies and approaches (and evidence underpinning these) can tackle these
8. Have a knowledge of and discuss the principles of clinical governance, clinical audit and research
in terms of improving the quality and standard of care.
9. Demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability when solving an ethical dilemma
10. Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of pharmacy and medical law
11. Consult and communicate effectively and professionally with patients (and other healthcare
professionals) on issues concerning the safe and effective use of their medicines in both a clinical and
simulated clinical environment.
12. Demonstrate an awareness of limitations in clinical knowledge and skills and refer and escalate
care appropriately when consulting with patients
13. Demonstrate competency to a safe level in dispensing, patient consultation and related
documentation
14. Demonstrate mastery in developing, managing and maintaining quality management systems in a
simulated pharmacy setting
15. Demonstrate reflective practice and identification of learning and development needs.
16. Demonstrate competence in pharmaceutical calculations
17. Locate and interpret information in the BNF and other reference material to solve clinical
problems.
Teaching and Learning
Please see the online timetable for details of scheduled sessions. The running order and topics is
provided below.
Formal lectures (62 hours) Workshops (96 hours) Placements (32+24 hours) Guided independent
study (386 hours). Multiple examples of formative assessment and feedback are included in the
module e.g.
- Formative workshops on advanced consultation skills to support placements and OSCEs; Immediate
verbal feedback from staff and peers
- Formative workshops on care planning to prepare students for the simulated ward round summative
assessment and the advanced pharmaceutical care written exam; Immediate verbal feedback from
staff and peers
Taught lectures and Workshops
The lectures and workshops are intended to be a starting point for your study only on each topic. You
are expected to read around the subject area using primary sources of literature. Presentation
materials (Powerpoint files and web material) that are used during taught sessions will be available on
StudentCentral where possible in most cases. But, please note that because some lectures contain
patient sensitive material these may be redacted. It is STRONGLY recommended that you make
additional notes during lectures and workshops. The online lecture material is there to support your
learning, not replace traditional methods of learning.
Running Order

PYM62 Lectures and workshops

The first 3 years of the MPharm course have provided you with a sound foundation in the science and
practice of pharmacy. It has been achieved through using integrated cases that draw upon the under-
pinning science to help you identify, understand the nature of, and solve, basic clinical therapeutic
problems.

This final year module, ‘Preparing for Pharmacy Practice’, aims to take your knowledge and skills a
step further, so that you are fully prepared for your pre-registration year, and your professional life
beyond. The focus of the module is therefore on the transition from pharmacy student to pre-
registration pharmacist - developing your characteristics so that you move along the trajectory from
being a novice, to that of an expert in the use of medicines. These characteristics will include
decision-making, problem-solving, independent thought and initiative, and an understanding of human
factors.

We have included a number of learning activities in this module which will assist this process. These
include:

• A series of lectures from expert healthcare professionals on their roles and responsibilities,
and key aspects of the patient care that they provide
• The modern NHS, law, ethics and models of care

• Patient safety, and responsibility of the pharmacist

• Advanced pharmaceutical care (drug interactions, drugs in special patient groups,

pharmacogenomics, clinical decision making and clinical reasoning)

• Clinical research and audit

To provide you with further experience you will also take part in a series of Advanced Pharmaceutical
Skills (APS) workshops, which include:

• Consultation skills
• Pharmaceutical care-planning
• Simulated ward round

• Simulated pharmacy and dispensing

• End of life care

The taught material will complement two clinical placements. One of these will take place in hospital
for 4 days, and one will take place in community pharmacy for 3 days. The hospital placement will
focus on care-planning, the patient journey, and some of the clinical skills that are necessary for a
competent clinical pharmacist.
PYM62 Lectures
Running order
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Lecture title Lecturer Theme
Advanced consultation skills Dr Sian APC
Williams
Diagnostic calculation test Dr Greg Scutt APC
Using drugs in the extremes of age (paediatrics) Elaine Sharp APC
Using drugs in the extremes of age (older people) Mairead APC
O’Malley
Medicines optimisation and Clinical decision making Dr Greg Scutt APC
The pharmaceutical care process, human factors, and the Dr Greg Scutt APC
personal checklist
Advanced pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics Dr Greg Scutt APC
Clinical cases Dr Greg Scutt APC
Clinical governance and audit Dr Jane Allen R&A
Clinical research in the NHS (older people) Dr Jane Allen R&A
The role of the pre-registration pharmacist Prijay Bakrania HCP
The role of the CCG pharmacist Dr Stewart HCP
Glaspole
The role of the consultant pharmacist Emma HCP
Foreman
Medication related harm Dr Greg Scutt PS
The role of the GP (and age-related risk of harm from Dr Nikesh HCP
medicines Parekh
Future models of care and leadership in the NHS Dr Jane Allen NHS
Clinical pharmacy in the future Dr Jane Allen NHS
Clinical cases Dr Greg Scutt / APC
RS
Clinical decision making with antibiotics Sam Lippett APC
Medication safety Naomi Burns PS
Lecture title Lecturer
Introduction to HIV Heather Leake
Date
Molecular mechanisms of HIV* Dr Simon Jeffs
Antiretroviral drugs Dr Lucas Bowler
HIV prevention (TasP, PrEP, HIV testing and stigma) Dr Gill Dean
Clinical cases: therapeutic management of uncomplicated HIV (including Venita Hardweir
pregnancy)
Complications of HIV (2o viral infections, e.g. CMV, HSV) Dr Lucas Bowler
Complication of HIV (mycobacterial infections) Dr Joao Inacia
Silva
Complications of HIV (antifungals and fungal 2o infections) Dr Lucas Bowler
Ageing and frailty with HIV Dr Tom Levitt
Clinical cases: opportunistic infections in HIV Heather Leake
Date
Clinical cases: therapeutic management of complex HIV with co- Heather Leake
morbidities and interactions) Date
Clinical cases (pre-work) and HIV summary Heather Leake
Date
End of life care Dr Angela
Macadam
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
Clinical cases / calculations Dr Greg Scutt
PYM62 Law and ethics lectures

Session title Lecturer Activity

Introduction Claire May (CM) -
New roles for pharmacists Shane Costigan – Teaching
Darzi Fellow
The benefits of PYM62 in the workplace Oli Simmonds – pre- Teaching
reg SASH
Medicines Optimisation Railton Scott Teaching
Consent Angela MacAdam Teaching
The role of the LPC James Wood – CEO Teaching
of CPSS
What can go wrong in the workplace? Noel Wardle - Teaching
Avoiding the pitfalls solicitor
Professional Decision making Claire May (CM) MEP pre-reading
Emergency Supplies Claire May (CM) MEP pre-reading
The Professional Voice Liz Butterfield Teaching
Student Debate – misuse of prescribed Claire May (CM) Student-led activity
medicines
Responsible Pharmacist Claire May (CM) MEP pre-reading
Core concepts Claire May (CM) MEP pre-reading
Using the Summary Care Records in Hannah Syed Teaching
practice
Ethical Dilemmas Claire May (CM) Teaching
Core concepts Claire May (CM) MEP pre-reading
The role of the GPhC inspector Simon Denton Teaching
The role of the CDLO Stephen Doswell and Teaching
Aaron Fairbridge
Student Debate - AMS Claire May (CM) Student-led activity
Q&A session Claire May (CM) Student-led
Ethical Dilemmas Claire May (CM) Teaching
PYM62 Workshops

Running order

There are several workshops which run throughout the year. The first two workshops (advanced
consultation skills, and pharmaceutical care planning) build upon material learnt during the lecture
series and help to develop the skills that will be assessed in the Simulated Ward Round Assessment.

• Advanced consultation skills

• Pharmaceutical care planning
• Simulated pharmacy

• End of life care

Learning Support and Coursewares
Please see “ASPIRE” reading list on the Studentcentral module area for details of learning resources for the
module.
Current editions of:
1. British National Formulary, British Medical Association: Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
2. BNF for children, BMJ Pub. Group.
3. Walker, R.P.D., and Whittlesea, C. Clinical pharmacy and therapeutics, Churchill Livingstone.
4. Rutter, P. Community pharmacy: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, Churchill Livingstone.
5. Appelbe, G.E., Wingfield, J., Dale, J.R.P.l., and ethics. Dale and Appelbe's pharmacy law and ethics.
Gordon E. Appelbe, Joy Wingfield. Edition, Pharmaceutical Press.
6. Alldredge, B.K., Koda-Kimble, M.A.A.t., and Young, L.Y.A.t. Applied therapeutics: the clinical use of
drugs, edited by Brian K. Alldredge .et al. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
7. Kumar, P.J., and Clark, M.L. Kumar & Clark's clinical medicine, Saunders Elsevier.
8. Dodds, L.J. Drugs in use: clinical case studies for pharmacists, Pharmaceutical Press.
9. Rang, H.P., and Dale, M.M. Rang and Dale's pharmacology, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
10. Aulton, M.E. Aulton's pharmaceutics: the design and manufacture of medicines, Churchill Livingstone.
11. Barton, S. Mental health, BMJ Publishing Group.
12. Addison, B. Minor illness or major disease? Brian Addison ... [et al.] Pharmaceutical Press.
13. Medicines, ethics and practice, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
14. Naidoo, J., and Wills, J.M. Developing practice for public health and health promotion, Baillière Tindall.
15. www.gov.uk/government/publications/berwick-review-into-patient-safety, D.o.H. (2013). Berwick review
into patient safety.
16. The mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation trust inquiry. The Robert Francis Report. (2013) Nurse Educ
Today 33, 181-182.
17. An organisation with a memory: report of an expert group on learning from adverse events in the NHS
chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, (2000) Department of Health, Great Britain (The Stationery Office).
18. Building a safer NHS for patients: implementing an organisation with a memory. (2001) (Great Britain,
Department of Health).
19. Smith, J. (2004). Building a safer NHS for patients: improving medication safety, ([London]: Dept. of
Health).
20. Pharmacy in England: building on strengths – delivering the future. Department of Health. London,
Stationary Office.
21. Choice matters: Improving choice improves patients’ experiences. Department of Health. London,
Stationary Office
22. Introduction to Pharmaceutical Calculations, Rees, JA. Smith, D. Smith B. Pharmacy Press
In addition, peer reviewed publications relevant to the material being delivered, or observed during
experiential learning.
PLEASE NOTE: It is expected that you will make substantial use of the scientific literature to supplement
your reading of the recommended texts.

9|Page PYM62 Preparing for Pharmacy Practice

Assessment
Assessment for this module consists of four mark-bearing components (plus four pass/fail elements), each
with a threshold mark requirement of 40%. A weighted average of 50% must also be achieved across the
four MARK-BEARING components to pass the module. The overall module mark will be determined solely
by the mark-bearing components. The pass/fail components must be passed in order to receive credit for
the module (please note there is no threshold requirement for pass/fail components).

The pass mark of 50% for the module aligns with the University of Brighton Grading Descriptors for Level 7
(which can be found here: https://staff.brighton.ac.uk/reg/acs/docs/Postgraduate%20marking-
grading%20descriptors.pdf and on studentcentral under the Assessment and Grades area).

Item Brief Description % Deadline Feedback (when and how)

Component 1 Unseen written examination in 40% May / June Following the examination
Advanced Pharmacy Practice (LO board in June student will be
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) (2 hours) able to view written feedback
on examinations
Component 2 Unseen written examination in 30% May / June Following the examination
Professional Practice (LO 1, 3, 6, board in June student will be
7, 8, 10 and 17) (1.5 hour) able to view written feedback
on examinations
Component 3 Unseen written examination in Pass/Fail May / June Following the examination
Calculations (LO 16) (2 hours) board in June student will be
able to view written feedback
on examinations
Component 4 Group/team assessment of 5% Assessment Oral feedback will be
simulated ward round (1, 2, 3, 4, takes place provided immediately
5, 11, 12) throughout following assessment which
the year takes place throughout the
according to year
group
allocation
Component 5 Simulated Pharmacy Competency Pass/Fail Assessment Oral / written feedback will
Assessment (LO 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, takes place be provided both during, and
15) throughout following the assessment
the year which takes place
according to throughout the year
group
allocation
Component 6 Log-books (LO 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12) Pass/Fail Assessment Following the examination
takes place board in June student will be
throughout able to view written feedback
the year on examinations
according to
group
allocation
Component 7 Completed CPD entries (on-line Pass/Fail May / June Following the examination
written entry or on-line submission board in June student will be
of verbal entry (~60 s video) (no able to view written feedback
more than half in verbal on examinations
10 | P a g e PYM62 Preparing for Pharmacy
Practice
 format)).(LO 15). See student
central for further detail on the
requirements of this assessment.
Component 8 Unseen OSCE (LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 25% May / June Following the examination
11, 12, 17) (1.5 hours) board in June student will be
able to view written feedback
on examinations

Feedback will be provided on your performance during workshops, and following the simulated ward round
assessment to aid your learning. Following examination boards students will be provided with an
opportunity to view their written papers and associated feedback. Please note however, that in order to
provide you with the most appropriate support, the means and timing of feedback will vary according to the
task. Please note that feedback on any work will not be made available until after all students have handed
in the item. An announcement will be sent out by email when feedback is ready for viewing. Students are
reminded that work handed in late will be subject to penalties as described in GEAR.

Further details on the assessment structure and marking can be found in the appendix to this document,
and in the Assessment and Grades area on studentcentral.

Plagiarism and collusion

Please consult the University’s Plagiarism Awareness Pack if you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism or
collusion. Collusion will be treated as cheating and penalised accordingly. Do not share your coursework or
your preparation with students outside of your group. Once submitted, reports may be scrutinised by the
JISC plagiarism detection system (Turnitin) and the module team will be presented with a report highlighting
any sections which have substantial similarity to other documents on the internet or submitted by other
users of the system, including previous submissions. Work which has a very high similarity index will be
examined in more detail by a member of staff, and should it appear that plagiarism or collusion have taken
place, the student(s) concerned will be subjected to the University’s Academic Misconduct procedure.

Moderation
All of your assessed work is subjected to checking for consistency and fairness according to the
University‘s moderation policy. For this module this involves:

• Multiple staff checking assessment questions for accuracy and consistency

• Moderation of exam scripts to check for consistency, fairness and accuracy of marking
• Standard setting of OSCE stations, to ensure that an assessment pass reflects safe and effective
practice
• Review of assessment statistics to highlight ambiguous questions

Where any discrepancies are discovered during this process, the source is investigated to eliminate any
errors and, where necessary, all work will be marked again.

11 | P a g e PYM62 Preparing for Pharmacy

Practice
The marks awarded for all assessment components of this module are subject to further moderation by an
external examiner. The external examiner reviews samples of students’ summative assessment to ensure
that the level of achievement demonstrated by the students reflects the required academic standards for the
award and is comparable to awards at other UK Higher Education Institutions.

Student Feedback
You will be offered a chance to feedback to us on your student experience via an anonymous survey at the
end of the module. Please let us know what you found effective and what you think could be improved. If
you have any questions or experience any problems with this module please email the module leader as
soon as possible for help and assistance.

12 | P a g e PYM62 Preparing for Pharmacy

Practice