NHS priorities

Whether it’s to prepare for the next Pharmacy Quality Scheme deadline, or to increase your confidence in helping people with a learning disability, this section provides topic-specific pages that link to current NHS priorities. This section will support you in keeping your knowledge and skills up to date in order to provide high-quality pharmacy services and be service-ready.

Clinical pharmacy

Our clinical portfolio is expanding on a frequent basis, helping you to advance your knowledge and skills and deliver medicines optimisation in practice for all sectors of pharmacy. From two new focal points a year to our small group learning for hospital pharmacists – Optimise – this section focuses on clinical pharmacy, diseases and therapeutics.

Public health

The public health agenda is embedded in pharmacy, yet topics such as emergency contraception or stop smoking support are as prevalent as ever. As well as our public health workshops, use this section to access a wide range of resources to assure and maintain your competence, all underpinned by the Declaration of Competence system.

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e-learning

Inhaler technique for health professionals: getting it right


  • Released: 03/2020
  • Reviewed: 10/2023
  • Study time: 2h:0m

In this e-learning programme we explore the reasons why we need to improve the way that we help people with their inhaler devices. We will look at how the devices work and why making simple changes when we are speaking to people using inhaled medicines can improve health outcomes.

Top image credit: IPCRG

Learning outcomes

On completion of all aspects of this learning programme you should be able to:

  • discuss the potential implications of sub-optimal inhaler technique
  • describe the different types of inhaler devices and their instructions for use
  • outline how the delivered dose is made in each type of device
  • describe how inspiratory flow can affect medicine delivery for different inhalers
  • describe the breathing technique required to achieve optimum inspiratory flow for each device
  • describe how the environmental impact of inhalers effects prescribing decisions
  • demonstrate your role in optimising inhaled medication.

How to use this programme

You can access this e-learning programme using a web browser on any device. You will need to be connected to the internet while you work through it.

Learning intended for

  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Trainee pharmacists
  • CPPE registrants