The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) have announced a three-year extension of their successful learning programme designed to support pharmacists delivering the Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service (PIPS) in Wales.
Originally launched in 2024, the programme equips pharmacists with the essential knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide excellent patient care as independent prescribers.
The extended partnership means the programme will continue to run until at least 2028.
“We are thrilled to continue and build upon this collaboration with HEIW as we embark on a new 3-year journey to further empower pharmacists across Wales to deliver high-quality prescribing services to our communities,” said Elen Jones, RPS Director for England and Wales.
“This extended partnership builds on the success of last year’s work and reflects the ongoing commitment to advancing the role of prescribing pharmacists.”
The programme offers practical, clinically focused workshops across Wales, designed by experienced pharmacist prescribers and GPs.
The sessions address common conditions seen in community pharmacy and include case studies, group activities, and expert-led Q&A discussions.
Margaret Allan, Pharmacy Dean at HEIW, commented: “We are pleased to be able to build on our collaboration with RPS by continuing the HEIW/ RPS Independent Prescriber Series aimed at Pharmacists accredited to provide the PIPS within Wales.”
“Feedback from the programme in 2024/25 has been overwhelmingly positive and many participants have reported an increase in knowledge, skills and confidence when supporting patients after attendance at an event.”
Allan also shared their plans to increase the number of places available and offer more local events to improve equity of access to PIPS provision across Wales.
Sukhi Basra