Medicines Management - Independent & Supplementary Presribing

Non-medical prescribing skills provide the ability to address and/or enhance patient's medicines management as part of a holistic care package. This programme teaches HCPC registered and eligible health professionals independent/ supplementary prescribing competencies as required by the DH, HCPC and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Health professionals not currently eligible for independent/ supplementary prescribing rights, but who are working under patient group directives and wish to extend academic knowledge of prescribing, will also be considered for this programme.

By completing your studies in both Pharmacotherapeutics in Prescribing and Prescribing in Practice, you will meet the requisite training for physiotherapists, podiatrists, therapeutic radiographers and paramedics as independent/ supplementary prescribers, and for diagnostic radiographers and dietitians as supplementary prescribers.

You will benefit from a range of learning experiences across and between multiple disciplines which will enhance your knowledge and skills, encourage critical thinking, creativity and strategic planning in independent and/or supplementary prescribing within your professional field, thereby enhancing employability.

Work placement / study abroad
Placement is central to the development of the safe prescriber and the educational input and support of a designated/ approved General/ Medical Practitioner is crucial to the development of the necessary competencies.

For students undertaking the full Postgraduate Certificate programme, placement is organised by the student in negotiation with the employer and Medical Practitioner, and in consultation with the University of Ulster. Clinical placement across the two modules is a minimum 90 hours. Placement is a compulsory part of this programme during which students develop their clinical skills, under the supervision of a Medical Practitioner, to be able to undertake their new role safely.

The placement setting will typically be the workplace for each student. Proposed Medical Practitioner's will be expected to sign a declaration of eligibility (in accordance with the Department of Health's eligibility criteria) prior to a student being accepted onto the programme. In cases where students cannot gain the skills required in their place of work, the main objective will be to seek the experiences within another suitable environment.

To see a complete course description please click on "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Pharmacotherapeutics in Prescribing
This module provides the necessary pharmacological knowledge within the context of the underpinning pathophysiology that will enable the healthcare professional to prescribe safely, appropriately, and effectively within a collaborative health care team. It will be offered through a blended combination of e-learning, taught components and threaded discussion with supported group work. Assessment is by a combination of coursework and a synoptic examination.

Prescribing in Practice
This module will prepare Allied Health Professionals to undertake an active role in non medical prescribing within their specified area of practice. The legislative framework and professional and ethical principles, which underpin prescribing practice, are explored.

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

Applicants must have gained:
(i) an Honours or non-Honours degree in Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Diagnostic or Therapeutic Radiography from the University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, 'or from a recognised national awarding body or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

ii) an equivalent standard in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification; and

b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent);

c) provide evidence that they meet the DH entry requirements for Independent and/ or Supplementary Prescriber training

or as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) , (b) and (c):

(d) In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a Prescribing Practice Portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for the exemption against modules within the programme.

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 7.0 with no band score less than 6.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

To see a complete description of the Entry Requirements please click on "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Career options
The Postgraduate Certificate in Medicines Management delivers a range of learning experiences to enable students across and between multiple disciplines to enhance their knowledge and skills, encourage critical thinking, creativity and strategic planning in Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribing within their professional field, thereby enhancing employability. Students applying for this programme are expected to already be following a distinct career pathway with the opportunity of progressing in that pathway through the extended prescribing and leadership skills attained.