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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distance learning

Older people


  • Released: 05/2015
  • Reviewed: 07/2021
  • Study time: 6h:0m

On completing this learning, you will be able to adapt your person-centred consultation style to support older people with their medicines use, especially those who are frail or have mental health problems. You will also learn about the impact of the physical, behavioural and socio-economic challenges faced by older people on their use of medicines and how pharmacy services can support them.

Learning outcomes

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

  • explain the importance of taking a person-centred approach to support older people with their medicines use, which reflects the differing needs of older people, especially those who are frail or have mental health problems
  • outline the healthcare settings commonly used by older people, the role of various people who provide care for older people and the role of pharmacy in supporting the safe transfer of care between settings
  • describe the impact of the physical, behavioural and socio-economic challenges faced by older people on their use of medicines and how pharmacy services can support medicines optimisation
  • describe the effects of ageing on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medicines and the causes and consequences of polypharmacy
  • outline the role of the pharmacy team in safeguarding vulnerable older people.

Learning intended for

  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Trainee pharmacists
  • CPPE registrants