A new programme has been launched to enhance pharmacists’ prescribing skills in Wales.

Designed to equip pharmacists, mainly in primary care settings, with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to deliver the Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service (PIPS), the programme is a collaboration between the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).

Participants will learn to diagnose common conditions and minor ailments, identify red flag symptoms, know when and how to refer patients to other healthcare services, and treat common conditions and minor ailments.

Sessions will be delivered as six separate two-hour in-person workshops across Wales incorporating presentations, quizzes, group activities, case study discussions and expert Q&As.

Elen Jones, director for Wales at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the collaboration with HEIW will empower pharmacists in Wales to deliver high-quality prescribing services to communities. “I’m particularly pleased to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of prescribing pharmacists in Wales in helping to shape the content of this programme,” she said.

“The programme's focus on common conditions and minor ailments aligns perfectly with the everyday challenges faced by pharmacists in their practice,” Ms Jones added.

Margaret Allan, pharmacy dean at Health Education and Improvement Wales, said she hoped the programme would improve confidence in pharmacist prescribing and equity of access to the provision of the PIPS across Wales.