March/April 2004
People

New Generation of Pharmacists

The University has helped to deliver a new kind of pharmacist to give patients quicker access to medicines and reduce the burden on GPs.

Some nine of the first 27 pharmacists in the UK to become Supplementary Prescribers have qualified through the University, one of 14 Higher Education institutions to offer the course.

Health Minister Rosie Winterton, President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Dr Gill Hawksworth, Dean of the University's School of Health Studies Gwendolen Bradshaw and the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Taylor congratulated nine of the first 27 pharmacists in the UK to become Supplementary Prescribers recently.

Supplementary prescribers are pharmacists or nurses who can prescribe medicines to patients suffering from chronic conditions - such as diabetes or heart disease. They work closely in partnership with a doctor or dentist and the patient.

Nurses have been training as supplementary prescribers since 2003 and also take the Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals course at the University alongside pharmacists.

During a visit to the University, Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: "As supplementary prescribers, pharmacists will use their skills to help many patients with chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, asthma and hypertension.

"Extending prescribing responsibilities to pharmacists will make getting theright medicine easier and more convenient than ever before and will help toreduce the burden on GPs by giving them more time to deal with acutely ill patients."

Prescribing for Healthcare Professionals Course Leader at the University's School of Pharmacy Jasmine Comrie said: "We are delighted to be at the leading edge of changing the way services are delivered.

"The School is pleased to have delivered nine of the first 27 supplementary prescribing pharmacists in the UK - we look forward to seeing many more qualify in the years to come."

16 April 2004

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