Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for ACS Course

  1. Why should Clinical Pharmacists work in Emergency Departments (ED)?

In 2013, Health Education England “Emergency Medicine: Background to HEE proposals to address workforce shortages” suggested that there is merit in having trained pharmacists in the ED 24/7.

In 2014 the NHS England Board Paper “Urgent and Emergency Care Review: Progress and Implementation Plan” identified that there should be a National Pilot of pharmacists working in EDs. In addition the Royal Pharmaceutical Society “Improving Urgent and Emergency care through better use of pharmacists” stated that all A&E departments should incorporate a pharmacist to manage medicines related issues.

  1. What is the evidence to support this extended role of ED Pharmacists?

In 2014, the results of a pilot in the West Midlands suggested that pharmacists with existing training could manage 8.3% patients who attend EDs. This rose to approximately 50% patients if independent prescribing hospital pharmacists receive further advanced practice clinical training of up to one year currently available to non-medical staff.

Results from the 2015 National Pilot for ED Pharmacists, where more than 18,000 sets of data were analysed, identified that up to 35.7% patients presenting to the ED could be managed by a pharmacist with enhanced clinical skills who is a Non-Medical Prescriber.

  1. What type of extended role do Clinical Pharmacists in ED undertake?

The 2014 West Midlands pilot and the 2015 National Pilot both showed that that ED Pharmacists with NMP and additional Clinical skills had the most impact for managing General Medical or Orthopaedic patients who presented to the ED.

Earlier studies which demonstrated the benefitsof pharmacists working in the ED identified roles more associated with traditional clinical pharmacy such as drug history taking, medicines reconciliation, writing the admitting inpatient prescription chart, managing patients with adverse drug reactions, advising on drug dosing and choice, potential cost savings and reducing the number of medication–related errors in EDs.

  1. What additional training should a Clinical Pharmacist working in the ED undertake?

The 2014 West Midlands pilot and the 2015 National Pilot suggested that an experienced clinical pharmacist with Advanced Clinical skills training, who is a non-Medical Prescriber, would have the most impact on patient care in the ED.

The National pilot from 2015 also identified the types ofAdvanced Clinical Skills that pharmacists would need to gain in order to work as an independent practitioner in the ED.

To fill this skills gap, the School of Pharmacy at the University of Manchester launched an “Advanced Clinical Skills” (ACS) Course in 2015. The ACS Course, which can be taken as a stand-alone Course or, in addition to undertaking the MPS Independent Prescribing Course the student can complete the Emergency Medicine Specialist Training for Pharmacists Programme.

  1. If I want to work as an Emergency Department Pharmacist, which Programme/Course should I undertake?

If you are already a Non-Medical Prescriberand have a NMP PG Cert, then you only need to undertake the ACS Course in order to upskill to take on the new role of ED Pharmacist.

If you are not already a Non-Medical Prescriber, then if you apply for and successfully complete the Independent Prescribing Course at Manchester Pharmacy School, within 2 years of starting the ACS Course, you are eligible for an exit award of Advanced Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine(ASTEM) PG Certificate, which is a level 7, 60 credit Postgraduate Programme.

  1. What is the “Advanced Clinical Skills” (ACS) Course at Manchester Pharmacy School?

The “ACS” Course is a level 7, 30 credit postgraduate Course at Manchester Pharmacy School.

Level 7 isstudy is Master’s level, which means that you must have an undergraduate degree to undertake this programme.

The ACS Course is a 6 month, accelerate course, which is studied part-time.

You will be awarded a Clinical Practice Certificate on completion of the 30 credit ACS Course.

The course offers 30 credits, which may be transferrable into other programmes. For example, the 30 credit ACS Course can be combined with a 30 credit Independent Prescribing Course at MPS to complete the “Advanced Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine” Programme. For other Programmes, we would advise that you check in the first instance.

  1. Is a 6 month accelerateCourse right for me?

This accelerate course covers a large amount of learning in a very short space of time. You will need to engage fully with the Course as you will need to attend 8 study days at Manchester Pharmacy School for face-to-face learning, complete 120 hours of e-learning and undertake 15 days of supervised practice in this timescale. Only you can decide whether this approach works for you, but you must be prepared to commit fully for the duration of the programme.

  1. Is a blended learning programme right for me?

A blended learning approach offers a high degree of flexibility, through a minimum number of contact days. This means that you need to be self-motivated to learn in your own time. You must also have a fairly good level of IT skills, as the learning requires you to navigate Blackboard, deliver presentations and complete an electronic portfolio.

  1. What experience and qualifications do I need to undertake the “ACS Course” at Manchester University?

The entry requirements are

  • Honours Degree in Pharmacy (2:2 classification or above) or equivalent qualification.
  • Postgraduate Clinical Diploma or equivalent.
  • Current registration with the GPhC.
  • At least 2 years post-qualification patient-focused experience in a hospital setting.
  • Experience in an acute care setting.
  • Support from line manager and Pharmacy Department to undertake the ACS Course.
  • Agreement of an Emergency Department Mentor (ED Consultant) to support your supervised practice.
  1. What is the deadline for submitting my application for the September 2016 ACS Course?

The deadline for submission of the completed paperwork is 1st July 2016.

  1. How do the funding arrangements from Health Education North West work for this Advanced Clinical Skills Course?

There is funding available for students who have the support of their department to undertake the Course(s).

For students who are already Non-Medical Prescribers and wish to take the ACS Course alone, funding is available for:

  • Full Course fees for the ACS Course.
  • Backfill for 11 days at Band 7 Pharmacist.

For students who wish to undertake the full ASTEM programme then funding is available for:

  • Full Course fees for the ASTEM Programme (ieACS Course and NMP Course as part of ASTEM at Manchester Pharmacy School).
  • Backfill for 11days for the ACS Course plus 11 days for the Independent Prescribing Course, when taken as part of the ASTEM programme.
  1. If I am self-funding can I pay the course fees in instalments?

For students who do not have the support of a pharmacy department and are “self-funding” all fees must be paid prior to commencing the course. It is not possible to pay fees in instalments for this Course/programme, due to University regulations.

  1. Why do I need the support of my line manager/Head of Department to attend this Course?

HENW are funding this Course in order to develop a cohort of Pharmacists to work in EDs in the North West to meet workforce and clinical needs. In order to obtain funding for this Course, the Pharmacy Department support is essential to demonstrate the local service development.

  1. Why do I need an Emergency Department Mentor(EDM) signature on my application form?

There is a requirement to undertake 15 days of supervised practice with an Emergency Department Mentor for the ACS Course in order to develop the necessary Advanced Clinical Skills to work as an Independent Practitioner in the ED. This mentorship by the ED Consultant is essential to successful completion of the Course and will also help to engender good working relationships for the pharmacist to subsequently develop the new role on the ED.

Part of the requirement for successful completion of the ACS Course is for the student to be signed off as competent to take on this new role in the ED by the EDM.

  1. What is required of my EDM?

Please see EDM Agreement Form in How to apply section on webpage

  1. Enhanced DBS Check.

All students will have an enhanced DBS check on starting the Course in September 2016, which will be paid for by the University.

  1. What are the dates of the study days for the September 2016 intake?

There will be 8 face-to-face study days between September-December 2016. These all be held on Thursdays at Manchester Pharmacy School in the Stopford Building, Oxford Road.

September 2016 / October 2016 / November 2016 / December 2016
15th / 13th / 3rd / 8th
29th / 10th / 15th
24th
  1. How can the Programme leader support me during and after I have studied the “ACS”Course?

During the Programme, you will be assigned an Academic Advisor, who will provide 1:1 support for you to undertake the course.

In addition a local network of Clinical ED pharmacists is being set-up, to help provide peer-peer support in this new field of practice.

  1. Who can I contact for further information about the “Advanced Clinical Skills” Course or the “Advanced Specialist Training in Emergency Medicine” Programme?

The “ACS” Course Lead is Mrs Sandra Martin, Emergency Department Pharmacist, Clinical Academic Lecturer, 0161 778 4007