A new, updated and restructured Competency Framework for all Prescribers has been published today (14 July) by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) after collaboration with the British Pharmacological Society, all the prescribing professions and patients.
The Competency Framework outlines a common set of key competencies central to effective performance needed by all prescribers, regardless of their professional background.
The Framework helps support healthcare professionals to be safe, effective prescribers. It can be used by any prescriber to underpin professional responsibility for prescribing and also by regulators, education providers and professional organisations to inform guidance and advice. It will also help patients and carers identify good prescribing practice.
The Framework sets out ten competencies, focused on the consultation process and prescribing governance, within which are statements describing the activity or outcomes prescribers should be able to demonstrate.
RPS President Ash Soni said: “Both the number of medicines prescribed and the complexity of medicine regimes are increasing. The challenges associated with prescribing the right medicines and supporting patients to use them effectively should not be underestimated.
“There’s lots of evidence to show that much needs to be done to improve the way we prescribe and support patients in effective medicines use. This user-friendly guide will be invaluable and I’m delighted the RPS has co-ordinated the update.”
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Vice President – Clinical for the British Pharmacological Society added: “Prescriptions are the most common interaction many of us have with the NHS, yet approximately 9% of prescriptions contained errors. Furthermore, 6.5% of all admissions to NHS hospitals are due to adverse drug reactions, many of which may be preventable through safe and effective prescribing. The British Pharmacological Society is therefore pleased to have contributed to the updated Competency Framework for all Prescribers, which drew upon clinical pharmacologists’ expertise on the teaching and assessment of prescribing competency. We are championing improved prescribing through the delivery of the Prescribing Safety Assessment – the UK’s first national prescribing assessment – and dedicated learning resources.”
The British Pharmacological Society is pleased to have worked with a multidisciplinary group to update the framework, which all healthcare professionals should use when assessing their competency to prescribe.