First Reading Pharmacy postgraduates earn certificates – University of Reading
25 October 2005
The first cohort of students on the first postgraduate pharmacy course within Reading's new School of Pharmacy have received their certificates. Students on the Practice Certificate in Supplementary Prescribing course were awarded their certificates at a special presentation evening at the University on Thursday 6 October. The six successful students were Akin Adeniran, Sandra Goosey, Jane McShane, Nicola Shankland, Helen Shaw and Taofik Shodunke. Reading's part-time course was developed by the Centre for Inter-Professional and Postgraduate Education and Training (CIPPET) in response to the government initiative to extend prescribing. The Health and Social Care Act 2001 enabled the government to introduce different types of prescriber and to extend prescribing responsibilities to other health professions, including pharmacists. The course is delivered in conjunction with the course for Nurse Prescribers, within the School of Health and Social Care. The course includes: • 25 study days, including taught days, private study time, examinations and assessment. • 12 days practice experience. On the course, a designated medical practitioner (DMP) from his or her own field of practice provides supervision, support and shadowing opportunities for each student. They are then able to prescribe in the following clinical areas: Asthma and other lung conditions Diabetes and Hypertension Parkinson's Disease Mental Illness Cancer therapy Neonatal care During the evening, there was also the presentation of a Spirometer to the School of Pharmacy, purchased with funding provided by Astra-Zeneca. Spirometers measure the function of the lungs and can be used to diagnose problems and monitor treatment. They are a useful tool for the pharmacist prescribing in asthma and lung disease. End Notes for editors The photo shows (from left to right): Dr Angela Alexander (Course Director), Nicola Shankland, Sandra Goosey, Akin Adeniran, Jane McShane and Professor Gavin Brooks (Head of the School of Pharmacy). Other successful students not at the presentation were Helen Shaw and Taofik Shodunke. For further information about the course, please contact Angela Alexander on (tel) 0118 378 4640 or (email) a.m.alexander@reading.ac.uk