The course is based on part-time study for six months and combines online, face-to-face delivery and self-study days. Study days are from 9am to 5pm. Please note: all bank holidays are self-study days.
Self-study days for the course commencing on the 18th September 2024:
- 9th October
- 30th October
- 13th November
- 4th December
- 18th December
- 19th February
- 26th February
- 12th March
- 19th March
- 26th March
Self-study days for the course commencing on the 13th January 2025:
- 3rd February
- 24th February
- 17th March
- 7th April
- 12th May
- 9th June
- 23rd June
- 14th July
- 21st July
- 28th July
The course will cover:
Consultation, decision-making and therapy, including referral:
- Models of consultation
- Accurate assessment, history taking, communication and consultation with patients/clients and their parents/carers
- Concepts of working diagnosis or best formulation
- Development of a management plan and/or clinical management plan
- Confirmation of diagnosis/differential diagnosis - further examination, investigation, referral for diagnosis
- Prescribe, not to prescribe, non-drug treatment or referral for treatment
- Numeracy and drug calculations
- Stopping medication prescribed by others
- Medicines review.
Influences on, and psychology of, prescribing:
- Patient/client demand, and preference vs. patient/client need - knowing when to say 'no'
- External influences, eg companies or colleagues
- Patient/client partnership in medicine-taking, including awareness of cultural and ethnic needs
- Concordance as opposed to compliance/adherence
- Achieving shared understanding and negotiating a plan of action.
Prescribing in a team context:
- Rationale, adherence to, and deviation from national and local guidelines, local formularies, protocols, policies, decision support systems and formulae
- Understanding the role and functions of other team members
- Documentation, with particular reference to communication between team members, including electronic prescribing
- Auditing, monitoring and evaluating prescribing practice
- Interface between multiple prescribers and management of potential conflict.
