News
COMPASS therapeutic notes2 February 2010

The latest edition of COMPASS therapeutic notes, which describes the management of atrial fibrillation in primary care, is now available on the NICPLD website.
Once you have completed your study of COMPASS, MCQs for this edition are available on the course listing.
Patient medication review and records1 February 2010

A new online course entitled 'Patient Medication Review and Records is now available at the NICPLD website.
The course uses our new online format and can be viewed with any of the commonly used web-browsers.
As with any distance learning course, there are associated MCQs, which you must successful complete to be accredited with 12 hours of learning.
New brochure4 December 2009

The new course brochure for the January - March 2010 term will arrive with pharmacists by Monday 7th December 2009. At the same time, the website will be updated to show the new courses, which will enable pharmacist to apply online.
If you do not receive a brochure, please contact the NICPLD office (028 90972005).
If you have changed address, please click on the 'my account' link on this website that will enable you to update your address (or other details) under the 'my details' heading.
Funding for pharmacist prescribing17 November 2009
New Funding for Pharmacist Prescribing. For more information on how to apply for funding for pharmacist prescribing in primary care please see attachments:
Application form for NEW participants (2010-11)
Guidance Notes for Boards, Trusts, Pharmacist Prescribers, GP Practices and Pharmacy Contractors
Professional standards and guidance for pharmacist prescribers (PSNI)
RPSGB Clinical Governance Framework
Guidance for Non-Medical Prescribing Within GP Practices
The closing date for 2010-11 applications is Wed 13th January 2010.
Independent Prescribing Course22 October 2009

The next independent and supplementary prescribing course for pharmacists will start in April 2010. While this may seem a long time away, there are some arrangements that you will need to make prior to starting the course; for example, getting the support of your employer, obtaining a designated medical practitioner to provide in-practice experience and deciding which therapeutic area(s) you wish to prescribe in.
This all takes time and will require discussion with a local GP practice or hospital consultant. The deadline for applications is 20 November 2009.
Further information and application forms can be downloaded from the non medical prescribing section of the NICPLD website.
COMPASS therapeutic notes25 September 2009

The next edition of COMPASS, which describes the management of chronic asthma in adults and older children, is now available on the NICPLD website.
A copy of COMPASS therapeutic notes and the NICPLD newsletter should arrive with pharmacists by 26th September 2009.
CPD grants22 September 2009

CPD grants applications will be assessed by the PPET committee at its next meet on Wednesday 7th October 2009. Anyone considering applying for a CPD grant should have their completed application with NICPLD by Friday 2nd October 2009.
CPD grants cover up to 50% of the cost of course fees. Subsistence, including travel costs are not covered by the scheme.CPD grants are allocated on a first come first served basis.New course brochure31 July 2009

The new course brochure for the September - December 2009 term will arrive with pharmacists by Friday 7th August 2009. At the same time, the website will be updated to show the new courses, which will enable pharmacist to apply online.
If you do not receive a brochure, please contact the NICPLD office (028 90972005).
If you have changed address, please click on the 'my account' link on this website that will enable you to update your address (or other details) under the 'my details' heading.
Pandemic flu29 July 2009

NICPLD has not included specific training for pandemic flu in this term's programme as extensive information already exists from other organisations. For example, information is available from numerous websites, include those of the BMJ (http://pandemicflu.bmj.com) and of the DHSSPSNI (http://www.nidirect.gov.uk).
COMPASS24 July 2009

The NICPLD August newsletter is accompanied by the most recent edition of COMPASS, which discusses the pharmacological management of obesity. You may compete your COMPASS MCQs online and, if you score 70% or more correct, 2 hours of learning will be added to your portfolio.
MCQs for all current COMPASS therapeutic notes may be accessed via the NICPLD website. You may also download a PDF of previous editions of COMPASS.
The Responsible Pharmacist24 June 2009

The responsible pharmacist regulations will come into effect on 1 October 2009. To support pharmacists preparing for this change NICPLD has developed an online course. This course is part of our distance learning provision and can be accessed by clicking the Pharmacist > Courses link and then the Online Courses link on the right hand navigation bar. This course has MCQs associated with it and provides 3 hours of learning.
Further training on the responsible pharmacist regulations will be provided in the NICPLD regional programme. This one-evening workshop will take place in all nine regional venues throughout September 2009. Please note that this course will start at 7.30pm.
Building the community pharmacy partnership5 February 2009

Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership (BCPP) is about local communities and pharmacists working together to meet local needs. Recently, Community Development and Health Network has recently announced a new round of funding for BCPP. You can find out more about the various levels of funding and deadlines for applications at www.cdhn.org/bcpp.
NICPLD has developed a distance learning course, Working With Communities, to support pharmacists who wish to participate in BCPP. You can order a copy of this course on the distance learning page of this website.
C+D Update modules5 January 2009

Pharmacists who sign up to the Chemist and Druggist Update series in 2009 can have their registration fee reimbursed by NICPLD. You must pay the fee to the Chemist and Druggist when you register for Update and this will be reimbursed directly to you by NICPLD when you complete at least one of the Update modules.
When you complete the MCQs associated with an Update module you will receive 1 hour of learning towards you CPD.
COMPASS Therapeutic Notes11 August 2008

You can now complete MCQ for COMPASS Therapeutic notes on the NICPLD website.
When you are ready to complete your MCQs, login to the NICPLD website and go to the listing for the edition of COMPASS you have just read. Click on the Enter Answers link, which will take you to the answer template. Entering your answers is the same for any distance learning or live workshop. If you score more than 70% of the questions correct 2 hours of learning will be added to your account.
The latest version of COMPASS Therapeutic notes can also be downloaded, as a PDF, from the website. We will continue to send out COMPASS Therapeutic notes with the NICPLD newsletter, the next being available at the end of September 2008.
Controlled Drugs in Clinical Practice and Medicines Governance11 August 2008

Courses on Controlled Drugs in Clinical Practice and Medicines Governance were sent all pharmacists in July by DHSSPS. MCQs for these courses can be completed on the NICPLD website by going to the distance learning courses link and clicking on the listing for each course.
These courses, part of Northern Ireland’s response to the Shipman Inquiry, were also sent to all nurses and GPs. Junior doctors now have to complete the online version of the Medicines Governance course as part of their postgraduate training.
