Welcome to the Learning and Development section of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board's Medicines Optimisation page. Here, healthcare professionals can access a wealth of resources designed to enhance their knowledge and skills in medicines optimisation. Our goal is to support safe, effective, and cost-efficient prescribing practices across the region. Explore our comprehensive training programs, educational materials, and professional development opportunities tailored to meet the needs of our diverse healthcare community. Whether you're looking to stay updated with the latest guidelines or seeking to improve patient outcomes, you'll find valuable tools and information to help you succeed.
Here you will find details of local and national learning events that will be beneficial to pharmacy professionals and prescribers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
February 2025
| Topic | Date | Time |
Target audience |
Presenter(s) |
Link to registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valproate: the difficult conversations - The aim of this focal point is to deelop your skills and confidence in using a person-centred approach to help manage the risks associated with valproate | Feb & March 2025 | Pharmacists and technicians involved with valproate safety protocols | CPPE tutors |
CPPE login required |
|
| Polypharmacy Action Learning Sets: Aim to build confidence in and undstanding of the complex issues surrounding stopping inappropriate medicines safely |
All three sessions must be attended 12/02/2025 05/03/2025 26/03/2025 |
09:30-12:15 | GPs, other prescribing healthcare professionals | HIN | LINK |
| Heart Failure: Prescribing mastery webinars on managing prescribing in heart failure | Two part webinar, both parts should be attended 26/02/2025 and 19/03/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | Pharmacist prescribers, GPs and other prescribers | Zoe Girdis |
March 2025
| Topic | Date | Time | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Practice: What are the next steps following a prescribing qualification? | 06/03/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | Any sector pharmacists looking to move to advanced practitioner status | NHSE SE Region Workforce Lead and Faculty of Advanced Practice | LINK |
| Cardiovascular Renal Metabolic: NHSE Cardiac Transformation Programme: How do we join services in clinical practice? | 10/03/2025 | 16:00-17:00 | GPs pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | Simon Ray, National Clinical Director for Heart Disease, NHSE | LINK |
| Social Prescribing: How can pharmacy professionals support patients by the use of social prescribing? | 11/03/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | Practice & PCN pharmacy teams | PrescQIPP | LINK |
| Polypharmacy and Parkinson's Disease: increase your understanding of PD and how to improve prescribing for this group of patients | 13/03/2025 | 12:00-13:30 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | Karen Kite, Lead Clinical Pharmacist and Dr Robin Fakrell, Consultant at Royal United Hospitals | LINK |
| Heart Failure: HIN Wessex, part 2 of 3 focussing on Ongoing Management | 14/03/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | All healthcare professionals / clinicians and programme managers with an interest | Dr Paul Haydock (Consultant Cardiologist, UHS) and Becky Hyland (Heart Failure NCP, Wiltshire Health and Care) | LINK |
| ADHD NIHR public session: ask the expert - ADHD research | 18/03/2025 | 19:00-20:00 | Anyone with an interest in neurodiversity | Professor Samuele Cortese, University of Southampton and Dr Edoardo Ostinelli (University of Oxford) | LINK |
| Antimicrobials (AMS) TARGET: Managing recurrent UTI and reviewing long-term and repeat antibiotic therapy | 19/03/2025 | 18:30-19:30 | Medical practitioners in the primary care setting including but not limited to: general practitioners, nurse prescribers, practice and community pharmacists | TARGET | LINK |
| Polypharmacy and Learning Disabilities: STOMP and STAMP are everyone's business, this Masterclass will focus on your role in supporting with structured holistic and person-centred medication reviews | 20/03/2025 | 12:00-13:30 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | Dave Gerrard, Health Improvement Pharmacy Lead for LD and Autism, Carl Shaw LD and Autism Adviser, Alisa Watson Expert by Experience Co-Worker | LINK |
| Diabetes MSATS: Safer use of insulin (SPS) interactive session including discussion of complexity of issue, lived experience, exemplar practices and networking opportunities | 26/02/2025 | 12:30-14:00 | Healthcare professionals working in any sector with a role or passion for medication safety and/or involved in medicines use | Matthew Hepple (Advanced Diabetes and Endocrine Pharmacist), Hanadi Alkhder (Senior Prescribing Advisor and Diabetes Lead), Alex Harborne (GP Clinical Director) | LINK |
| Prescribing PrescQIPP mastery - insights on the latest prescribing controversies and breakthroughs | 26/03/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | Pharmacist prescribers, GPs and other prescribers | PrescQIPP | LINK |
| Familial Hypercholsterolaemia: South West CVD Collaborative webinar | 27/03/2025 | 12:00-13:00 | Healthcare professionals/ clinicians and programme managers | TBC | LINK |
April 2025
| Topic | Date | Time | Target audience | Presenter(s) |
Link to registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Failure: HIN Wessex, part 3 of 3 focussing on Complex Cases | 04/04/2025 | 13:00-14:00 | All healthcare professionals / clinicians and programme managers with an interest | Dr Paul Haydock (Consultant Cardiologist, UHS) and Becky Hyland (Heart Failure NCP, Wiltshire Health and Care) | LINK |
| Heart Failure: NHSE Cardiac Transformation Programme: Managing Heart Failure @ home and in the community | 07/04/25 | 16:00-17:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | TBC | LINK |
| Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Cohort 23: Aim to build confidence in, and understanding of, the complex issues surrounding stopping inapprpriate medicines safely |
All dates to be attended 23/04/2025 07/05/2025 21/05/2025 |
09:30-12:15 | Pharmacist prescribers, GPs and other prescribers | HIN | LINK |
| Heart Failure: South West CVD Collaborative webinar | 24/04/2025 | 12:00-13:00 | Healthcare professionals and programme leads | Dr Paul Haydock (consultant cardiologist, UHS) and Nick Hartshorne-Evans (Pumping Marvellous) | LINK |
May 2025
| Topic | Date | Time | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Failure: NHSE Cardiac Transformation Programme: Heart Failure - rapid treatment optimisation models | 12/05/2025 | 16:00-17:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | TBC | LINK |
August 2025
|
Topic |
Date | Time | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVD Prevention: NHSE Cardiac Transformation Programme: Revolutionising CVD Prevention - Lipid lowering management via innovative approaches | 11/08/2025 | 16:00-17:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | Helen Williams, Clinical Lead for Cardiovascular Disease, NHSE | LINK |
Here you will find recordings of local learning events that will be beneficial to pharmacy professionals and prescribers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
May 2024
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Masterclass 1: Adult asthma guidelines | 08/05/2024 | 01:00:00 | Respiratory nurses, GPs and pharmacy teams | Gary Connett UHS, Tom Brown PHU | Masterclass 1: Adult asthma guidelines |
| Frailty Prescribing safely in older people | 15/05/2024 | 01:30:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | HIN - national | LINK |
| Opioids Reducing opioids for chronic, non-cancer pain masterclass | 16/05/2024 | 01:30:00 | Wessex HIN | ||
| CVD Practical Management of Hypertension webinar | 21/05/2024 | 01:00:00 | MDT healthcare professionals working in primary care, secondary care and community pharmacies | HIN - Kent, Surrey & Sussex | LINK |
| Respiratory Masterclass 2: Paediatric guidelines | 22/05/2024 | 01:00:00 | Respiratory nurses, GPs and pharmacy teams | Gary Connett UHS, Tom Brown PHU |
June 2024
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polypharmacy Action Learning Set Foundation (ALSF) | May/June 24 | 02:30:00 | Pharmacists and healthcare practitioners working in primary care on polypharmacy medication reviews in older patients | HIN - Wessex | LINK |
| Mental Health Polypharmacy: antidepressants in older people | 20/06/2024 | 1:30:00 | GPs, pharmacy teams and other prescribing clinicians | Wessex HIN, Dr Bernie Cope (consultant psychiatrist for older people in Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust), Francis Johnson (advanced specialist MH pharmacist, Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust) |
|
| Polypharmacy: understanding the data webinars | various dates | 1:30:00 | Health Innovation Network nominated polypharmacy clinical leads, ICS medicines optimisation leads and Primary Care Networks (PCN) teams, including GPs and pharmacists | HIN - national | LINK |
July 2024
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental health: Antipsychotics in dementia | 11/07/2024 | 1:30:00 | All prescribers working in primary care, MO team | HIN | |
| SMRs Supporting patients to get the most out of their Structured Medication Review | 16/07/2024 | 01:00:00 | All prescribers including GPs, PCN/community pharmacists, frailty and complex care teams, social prescribers, health and wellbeing coaches, ICB colleagues and commissioners | HIN West of England: Dr Aoife Molly, Sarah Hafeez, Bhavika Lad, Graham Prestwich | LINK |
| Antimicrobials (AMS) PrescQIPP Masterclass: AMS and the new National Action Plan 2024-29 | 16/07/2024 | 01:00:00 | Any PrescQIPP registered users with an interest | PrescQIPP: Dr Naomi Fleming | LINK |
| Professional standards & competency PrescQIPP Practice Plus: Maintaining Competency as a primary care pharmacist / pharmacy technician | 17/07/2024 | 01:00:00 | Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working in general practice | Mary Collier and Aadam Hashmi (CQC) and Siddiqur Rahman (general practice prescribing pharmacist) | LINK |
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deprescribing PrescQIPP Masterclass: The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs | 14/08/2024 | 01:00:00 | Any PrescQIPP registered users with an interest | PrescQIPP: Professor David Taylor | LINK |
| CVD Heart Failure: An 'on the couch' discussion focussing on upskilling pharmacy professionals in early identification of heart failure and undertaking structured medication reviews in primary care for patients with heart failure | 20/08/2024 | 01:00:00 | Pharmacy professionals with an interest in heart failure | SPS: Clare Thomson and Alison Warren | LINK |
| Professional standards & competency The crucial role of supervision for primary care pharmacy professionals | 21/08/2024 | 01:00:00 | Pharmacy professionals | PrescQIPP: Danny Bartlett and Nipa Patel | LINK |
September 2024
|
Topic details |
Date |
Duration |
Target audience |
Presenter(s) |
Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Antimicrobials (AMS) Paediatric antimicrobial prescribing in primary care |
12/09/2024 |
01:00:00 |
Nurse, GPs, pharmacy professionals, other healthcare professionals with an interest in antimicrobial prescribing in children |
NHSE South West: Naomi Fleming, Elizabeth Jonas, Dr Chaamala Klinger, Sue Wade |
|
|
Mental health PrescQIPP Masterclass: Antipsychotic prescribing in people with dementia |
17/09/2024 |
01:00:00 |
Any PrescQIPP registered users with an interest. You can register for PrescQIPP account here: https://www.prescqipp. info /login/ |
PrescQIPP: Professor Tony Avery, Clare Howard and Sundus Jawad |
October 2024
SMRs Update on local and national research regarding SMRs, and discussion with local GPs about how they have worked with PCN teams to implement changes in practice.
November 2024
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobials (AMS) Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Integrating Antimicrobial Stewardship into Clinical Practice | 15/11/2024 | 01:00:00 | Nurses, GPs, pharmacists, paramedics and other health professionals in primary care with an interest in AMS | Dr Veronica Garcia-Arias | LINK |
| Antimicrobials (AMS) Alternatives to antibiotics in the management of recurrent UTI: what is the latest evidence telling us | 18/11/2024 | 01:00:00 | All NHS sectors welcomed as the presentations include focus for both primary and secondary care: healthcare professionals in primary care, secondary care, AMS pharmacy professionals, community pharmacy | NHSE: Gail Hayward, Hege Salvesen Blix, Dr Ashley Winter | LINK (login to NHS Futures required) |
| Antimicrobials (AMS) COPD and acute cough: Integrating Antimicrobial Stewardship into Clinical Practice | 19/11/2024 | 01:00:00 | Nurses, GPs, pharmacists, paramedics and other health professionals in primary care with an interest in AMS | Dr Ben Green | LINK |
| Antimicrobials (AMS) Recognising infection and improving antibiotic prescribing for people with learning disability or autism | 21/11/2024 | 01:00:00 | Healthcare professionals who work with patients with autism and learning disabilities | Dr Alison Tavare, Trang Dinh, Thomas Lee, Amanda Ridgway |
LINK (login to NHS Futures required) |
| Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) - Heart Failure | 21/11/2024 | 01:00:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | HIN - South East Collaborative | |
| Polypharmacy Polypharmacy and end of life masterclass | 26/11/2024 | 01:30:00 | GPs, pharmacists, nurse prescribers and other interested health professionals | HIN: Dr Saskie Holmes and Dr Lucy Pollock | LINK |
December 2024
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobials (AMS) Antibiotic use and antibiotic stewardship in primary care for RTIs: What works and what next? | 11/12/2024 | 01:00:00 | GPs, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics and other health professionals treating patients with RTIs in primary care or with an interest in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) | Prof Paul Little | LINK |
| CVD: lipids | 12/12/2024 | HIN - South West Collaborative | LINK |
January 2025
| Topic details | Date | Duration | Target audience | Presenter(s) | Link to recording |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Failure: PrescQIPP Practice Plus - Heart Failure Reviews | 29/01/25 | 01:00:00 | PCN and practice pharmacists and pharmacy technicians | Clare Thomson, PCN Lead and NHSE Trainer | LINK - log in required |
| Menopause: PrescQIPP Clinical Masterclass on Menopause Diagnosis and Management | 29/01/25 | 01:00:00 | GPs, pharmacist, nurse prescribers and other interest health professionals | Hayley Berry (CPPE and Menopause clinical pharmacist) | LINK |
| Depression: Two part Prescribing mastery webinars on managing prescribing in depression, are you aware of the changes in this field? Do you know about evidence-based approaches to selecting and adjusting treatments? Can you address common challenges, including adherence and side effect management? | 21/01/25, 13/02/25 | 01:00:00 | Pharmacist prescribers, GPs and other prescribers | Zoe Girdis, general practice pharacist and prescriber (PrescQIPP) | LINK |
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) offers high-quality learning materials for all pharmacy professionals, enables skill development and supports workforce transformation in England.
From face-to-face events to online and distance learning programmes, CPPE is passionate about the learning and development of the pharmacy workforce. They have an excellent reputation for delivering learning that goes through a robust quality assurance process and is developed in collaboration with pharmacy and healthcare colleagues. CPPE is part of the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, within the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, at the University of Manchester.
Begin your learning journey by registering with CPPE to access our range of free learning opportunities and resources:
• Register for free with CPPE
• CPPE programmes available to non-GPhC registrants
Check in regularly with our hot topics and clinical factsheets; both are updated regularly with new learning opportunities and ways to refresh your knowledge:
• CPPE Hot topics
• Clinical factsheets
Our Medicines optimisation and soft skills resources are a great way to equip yourself with new knowledge, skills and confidence applicable to any area of the pharmacy workforce. Sign up for one-to-one support and see other resources that are available with our coaching support service:
• Medicines optimisation
• Soft skills guides
• Coaching support
Pharmacy is a diverse and rewarding career with opportunities and roles ever expanding. You have an opportunity to use expert knowledge of medications to support health and wellbeing of patients across a variety of settings. Never has it been more exciting to join the pharmacy profession, with a wide variety of jobs on offer across the Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Integrated Care System (HIOW ICS).
This could include:
- Community pharmacy
- GP pharmacy
- Hospital pharmacy
- Medicines Optimisation teams
- Health and Justice sector
- Academia
- A combination of the above!
We offer a range of flexible working opportunities, including cross-sector posts to support integration as well as a number of funded training opportunities from early career to advanced practice.
Job opportunities include:
- Trainee pharmacy technician apprenticeship
- Trainee pharmacist foundation training year
- A wide variety of pharmacist and pharmacy technician roles
- Wider novel job opportunities for experienced pharmacy professionals
We welcome applications from individuals with a key interest in medications, healthcare and improving outcomes for our population.
Want to find out more, please see our job portal or NHS Jobs and contact hiowicb-hsi.pharmacyworkforce@nhs.net for further information.
If you are interested in returning to practice and want to find out more please:
- contact hiowicb-hsi.pharmacyworkforce@nhs.net with 'RtP' as the subject header
- Please complete this online form, which will allow us to link you with an employer that meets your requirements
Useful links if you considering a career in pharmacy:
Pharmacy Additional Roles Reimbursement (ARRS) Scheme
- Pharmacy Additional Roles Reimbursement (ARRS) Scheme Opportunities 2024/25
- FAQs: Using ARRS funding to support 'other Direct Patient Care roles' - Pharmacy Education Roles
Higher Development Award Level 2
Chichester College Group are pleased to announce that cohort 2 Higher Development Award is now open for enrolment. Please see attached flyer for further information and expressions of interest form.
This is a fully funded development programme which enables pharmacy support workers who have completed the L2 pharmacy services apprenticeship and may not want to pursue a traditional pharmacy route for further development.
Timeline
Q+A session: 17 July, 10-11am, email hda@chichester.ac.uk
Expressions of Interest: 31 July
Enrolment: 31 August
First workshop: 17 September (9am-12 noon online)
Oriel information for employers
Information for employers who would like to host a trainee pharmacist in 2026, deadline for application to national recruitment system is March 2025