Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

13 more pharmacists achieve RPS core advanced credential - Highest pass rate yet

13 pharmacists achieve RPS core advanced credential with record pass rate

The latest successful cohort includes pharmacists from both England and Scotland.

Pic credit: Getty Images

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced that 13 more pharmacists have successfully completed Core Advanced Credentialling as part of the latest assessment cohort —achieving a remarkable 93% pass rate, the highest to date.

This brings the total number of pharmacists awarded the RPS core advanced credential to 113 since the launch of the Core Advanced Curriculum in 2023, with successful candidates from GP, secondary care and community settings.


The latest successful cohort includes pharmacists from both England and Scotland.

In England, candidates were supported through the nationally funded pathway delivered in partnership with NHS England Workforce, Training and Education, and the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE). Meanwhile, Scottish candidates received support from their employers and NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

These pharmacists have successfully demonstrated their advanced capabilities across five domains:

Person-centred care and collaboration

Professional practice

Leadership and management

Education

Research

Those in England who completed the funded pathway are now eligible to apply for an ‘Advanced’ digital badge from the Centre for Advancing Practice.

In addition, all successful candidates who are RPS members will be able to use the modified membership affix MRPharmS (Advanced) and listed in the RPS directory of core advanced credentialled members.

Susan Roberts, RPS advanced pharmacist assessment panel chair, praised the new cohort’s achievements: “Each has evidenced advanced capabilities across the five curriculum domains and demonstrated how they lead the safe and effective use of medicines across their organisations for patients with highly complex needs.”

“Their success is not only a personal milestone but a powerful endorsement of the value of credentialing for driving professional advancement and assuring excellence in pharmacy practice for individuals, employers, patients and the wider health service.”

“These pharmacists are already making a real difference to patient care, and their achievements support our vision for a structured, supported and advanced career pathway in pharmacy.”

Adepeju E Deekae, one of the newly credentialled pharmacists, reflected on the journey:

“Developing my portfolio gave me the opportunity to reflect on my practice, map existing evidence to domain outcomes and identify gaps in knowledge and practice.”

“With support from expert mentors and collaborators, I was able to draw on years of experience to evidence my competence. It also enabled me to engage with the wider multidisciplinary team and gain support from senior stakeholders, particularly in leadership and management.”

“ The feedback from assessors will help shape my ongoing development towards consultant level.”

More For You

Pharmacist handing medicine to patient, NHS prescription cost freeze debate

Prescription charge will remain at £9.90

Pic credit: iStock

NPA calls for end to prescription charge after freeze announcement

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has asked for prescription charges to be completely removed despite the government announcing today that the charge will be frozen for the first time in three years.

Patients will continue paying £9.90 to collect their medication from a pharmacy.

Keep ReadingShow less
RPS launches new prescribing development programme for pharmacists

From 2026, every newly qualified pharmacist will be an independent prescriber

gettyimages

RPS unveils new training programme to enhance pharmacists’ prescribing skills

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has announced the launch of a comprehensive new prescribing development programme to support pharmacists across all stages of their prescribing careers.

The initiative comes ahead of the NHS mandate that every newly qualified pharmacist will be an independent prescriber by 2026 — a change set to transform the future of pharmacy practice.

Keep ReadingShow less
Varenicline promotes nicotine vaping cessation in young people

Researchers warn that e-cigarette use can increase risk for nicotine addiction,uptake of combusted tobacco and other substance use.

gettyimages

Anti-smoking pill varenicline may help young people quit vaping, new study suggests

Varenicline — a daily pill already offered through NHS Stop Smoking Services — could also support young people in quitting vaping, new research has suggested.

The medication, proven to be more effective than nicotine replacement gums or patches for smoking cessation, was shown to significantly boost vaping abstinence when combined with behavioural counselling in adolescents and young adults.

Keep ReadingShow less
Relying on blue inhalers alone can worsen asthma symptoms, warns MHRA

Patients are advised to use their preventer inhaler regularly, even if their asthma feels under control.

Pic credit: gettyimages

Overuse of blue inhalers can increase risk of severe asthma attacks, warns MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is reminding asthma patients to use their preventer (anti-inflammatory) inhalers regularly as prescribed, rather than relying solely on their blue inhalers, also referred to as reliever inhalers.

“Without regular use of a preventer inhaler, symptoms could worsen and increase the risk of severe asthma attacks,” the MHRA warned.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Government launches call for evidence on England’s first ever men’s health strategy

Wes Streeting

Pic credit: Getty images

Call for Evidence: Streeting urges public to help shape men’s health strategy

The government is urging men of all ages to come forward and contribute to the development of England’s first-ever men’s health strategy, a key initiative under its Plan for Change.

On Thursday (24), the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) launched a 12-week call for evidence, seeking insights from the public, health and social care professionals, academics and employers on ways to prevent and tackle the biggest issues facing men.

Keep ReadingShow less