Published: 02 Oct 2024
Category:
By Jocelyn Richards

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (FPM) is a charity and professional body with a mission to advance pharmaceutical medicine. We achieve this by developing and maintaining competence, ethics, integrity, and the highest professional standards for the benefit of the public. FPM is part of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in London and Edinburgh, and the Surgeons and Physicians of Glasgow. With 1,600 members across 39 countries, our reach is global.
In 2022, FPM embarked on a major project called DEfining MEdical NeeDs and Evidence (DEMENDE). This project aimed to pinpoint unresolved issues and gaps in data and knowledge pertaining to the management and care of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory diseases.
Through that project, FPM produced the DEMENDE COVID-19 Workshop: Report and Recommendations report. One of the recommendations from the report was to enhance the education of healthcare professionals in the clinical presentation and correct prescribing of treatments and therapies for COVID-19 and other viral infections.
Since November 2023, FPM has been developing a series of e-Learning modules for healthcare professionals in the UK, including general practitioners (GPs), specialist doctors (especially those working in intensive care medicine, geriatric medicine, oncology etc.), and nurses.
The result is the new eLearning series “Managing Respiratory Diseases: An e-Learning Series from FPM.” The series will be launching in autumn 2024 and available free of charge on the NHS eLearning for Health Learning Hub. This Learning Hub is the primary platform for health and social care staff. However, you do not need to be working in the NHS or have an nhs.net email address to access this learning for free.
The modules focus on managing respiratory infections like Covid, Influenza, and RSV, and provide essential education to prepare professionals for ongoing winter challenges. The series aims to offer accessible, practical, and comprehensive training, enabling healthcare professionals to maintain the highest standards of care, whilst also gaining CPD credits. The program is interactive and designed for easy application in clinical settings.
On 11 September 2024, FPM hosted an event to celebrate the upcoming launch of the series and thank everyone involved in development. During the event, it was noted that modern, digital education, available anytime on any devise is essential for today's busy healthcare professional. One speaker captured the essence of the project, describing the series as a “tool to help professionals navigate an intense, high-stakes environment with confidence and expertise.”

Professor Tim Higenbottam DSc MD FRCP FFPM, a Subject Matter Expert for the Covid module, addresses attendees
As we prepare for the full release of the eLearning package this Autumn and with winter pressures fast approaching, we invite all healthcare professionals to explore the series and take advantage of this opportunity to sharpen their skills. We look forward to seeing how this program will improve patient outcomes in the months ahead.
For more information and links to access, see the FPM website - fpm.org.uk/mrd.
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