Webinars

Tutors

• Mrs Claire Hetherington
  Lead General Practice Pharmacist, East Belfast Federation

Aim

To support pharmacists to confidently manage uncertainty in hypertension care by applying clinical reasoning skills to case-based scenarios, enabling safe and effective decision making.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Apply clinical reasoning skills in the assessment and management of patients with hypertension
• Use evidence-based resources and multidisciplinary support to manage clinical uncertainty and ensure safe and effective decision making
• Evaluate legal, professional, and ethical factors influencing clinical decision making
• Communicate clinical uncertainty clearly with patients to support shared decision making.

Tutors

• Mrs Kathy Martin
  Community Development & Health Network (CDHN)

Aim

To raise awareness of health literacy and equip pharmacy professionals with the skills to communicate effectively with people of varying health literacy levels.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Define health literacy and understand the impact of low levels of health literacy
• Recognise the relationship between health literacy and health inequalities
• Identify people who may be at risk of low health literacy levels
• Utilise health literacy techniques, including Check and Chunk and Teach Back, to address low health literacy
• Reflect on and identify actions you can take to promote a health literate approach and support shared decision-making.

Tutors

• Ms Roisin McQuillan
  Pharmacy Advisor, SPPG
• Mr Joe McCann
  Paediatric Critical Care Pharmacist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Aim

To equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to support the safe and effective use of medicines in children, including prescribing, administration, and monitoring.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand the physiological changes that occur during childhood, which affect drug metabolism
• Recognise the challenges associated with medicines use in children, including unlicensed and off-label prescribing, the use of specialised (‘specials’) products and choosing an age-appropriate formulation
• Understand the principles of safe prescribing and drug administration in paediatrics, including why errors may occur and methods to improve prescribing practice and patient safety
• Recognise and manage suspected adverse drug reactions in children including age-related considerations and pharmacovigilance matters.

Tutors

• Mr Joe McCann
  Paediatric Critical Care Pharmacist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
• Ms Roisin McQuillan
  Pharmacy Advisor, SPPG

Aim

To equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to support the safe and effective use of medicines in children, including prescribing, administration, and monitoring.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand the physiological changes that occur during childhood, which affect drug metabolism
• Recognise the challenges associated with medicines use in children, including unlicensed and off-label prescribing, the use of specialised (‘specials’) products and choosing an age-appropriate formulation
• Understand the principles of safe prescribing and drug administration in paediatrics, including why errors may occur and methods to improve prescribing practice and patient safety
• Recognise and manage suspected adverse drug reactions in children including age-related considerations and pharmacovigilance matters.

Tutors

• Ms Shelley Jones
  Consultant Pharmacist Neurosciences, Kings College Hospital

Aim

To provide an overview of the symptomatic management of Parkinson’s disease.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand the aetiology and signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
• Outline the available pharmacological options for the management of motor and non-motor symptoms
• Identify interventions pharmacists can implement to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease
• Recognise the role of the pharmacist in the management of Parkinson’s disease, including collaboration within the multidisciplinary team.

Tutors

• Ms Roisin McQuillan
  Pharmacy Advisor, SPPG
• Mr Joe McCann
  Paediatric Critical Care Pharmacist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Aim

To equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to support the safe and effective use of medicines in children, including prescribing, administration, and monitoring.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand the physiological changes that occur during childhood, which affect drug metabolism
• Recognise the challenges associated with medicines use in children, including unlicensed and off-label prescribing, the use of specialised (‘specials’) products and choosing an age-appropriate formulation
• Understand the principles of safe prescribing and drug administration in paediatrics, including why errors may occur and methods to improve prescribing practice and patient safety
• Recognise and manage suspected adverse drug reactions in children including age-related considerations and pharmacovigilance matters.

Tutors

• Ms Roisin McQuillan
  Pharmacy Advisor, SPPG
• Mr Joe McCann
  Paediatric Critical Care Pharmacist, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children

Aim

To equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to support the safe and effective use of medicines in children, including prescribing, administration, and monitoring.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand the physiological changes that occur during childhood, which affect drug metabolism
• Recognise the challenges associated with medicines use in children, including unlicensed and off-label prescribing, the use of specialised (‘specials’) products and choosing an age-appropriate formulation
• Understand the principles of safe prescribing and drug administration in paediatrics, including why errors may occur and methods to improve prescribing practice and patient safety
• Recognise and manage suspected adverse drug reactions in children including age-related considerations and pharmacovigilance matters.

Tutors

• Ms Paula Burns
  Falls Prevention Pharmacist, BHSCT

Aim

To equip pharmacists with the knowledge necessary to reduce the risk of falls in older people.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Acknowledge the risk factors for falls and identify people at risk of falls
• Recognise medicines that can contribute to the risk of falls and their impact on patient safety
• Consider interventions to reduce the risk of falls
• Understand the use of fracture risk assessment as part of a bone health evaluation
• Evaluate the pharmacist’s role in the prevention of falls.

Tutors

• Dr Mary Larkin
  GP with specialist interest in safeguarding, including domestic abuse

Aim

To equip pharmacy professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action to protect and support patients.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Identify key types of abuse and neglect, and recognise signs and behaviours that may indicate safeguarding concerns in children, young people, and adults at risk of harm
• Recognise signs of domestic abuse and effectively risk assess and respond to victims
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and disclosures, applying relevant guidance and legal frameworks to inform decision-making
• Apply the Fraser Guidelines when assessing a young person’s capacity to consent and understand information
• Record and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately, in line with professional, legal, and confidentiality requirements.

Tutors

• Mrs Joanne Sutton
  Lead for Pharmacy Technician Training, NICPLD

Aim

By the development of the appropriate knowledge and skills, equip individuals to effectively mentor those pharmacy technicians undertaking the ACPT programme

Learning outcomes

Having completed this workshop you should be able to:

• provide support to pharmacy technicians regarding the knowledge and skills required to complete an accuracy check on any prescription previously screened/approved by a pharmacist
• develop your mentee's professional awareness of pharmacy practice
• encourage the further development of effective communication skills
• further develop professional relationships within your team
• support appropriate skill-mix within your pharmacy.

Tutors

• Ms Amanda De Costa
  Clinical Supervisor and Pharmacist Volunteer, Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service
• Ms Naomie Farrell
  BHSCT Infant Feeding Team Lead
• Ms Holly McMurray
  GP with specialist interest in breastfeeding

Aim

To equip pharmacists with the knowledge and skills required to confidently support breastfeeding mothers.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Describe the prevalence of breastfeeding in Northern Ireland
• Explain the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants
• Recognise common breastfeeding-related presentations encountered in practice
• Assess the safety of medication used during breastfeeding and provide appropriate advice
• Outline the breastfeeding support services that are available.

Tutors

• Mr Barry Keenan
  Senior Clinical Pharmacist, WHSCT.
• Mr Niall O'Kane
  Lead General Practice Pharmacist, Mid Ulster GP Federation

Aim

To enhance pharmacists' knowledge and confidence in the holistic management of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

Outline the nine key care processes to monitor and manage patients with type 2 diabetes, reducing the risk of complications, supporting early identification, and enabling timely intervention

Apply the new NICE guidance to support the initiation and optimisation of therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes, including those with comorbidities

Counsel patients on the benefits and risks of the treatment options for type 2 diabetes, ensuring shared decision-making

Provide patient-centred education to support self-management of type 2 diabetes, including lifestyle measures, sick day rules, and medicines adherence.

Tutors

• Ms Lorna Cairns
  Consultant pharmacist for cancer services, WHSCT

Aim

To equip you with the knowledge and skills required to support patients receiving cancer treatment.

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Outline the available cancer treatment options, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy
• Explain the basic mechanisms of action and clinical applications of these treatments
• Recognise the side effects associated with these treatment options
• Discuss strategies to manage and minimise treatment-related side effects
• Understand your role in supporting patients receiving cancer treatment.

Tutors

• Ms Claire Young
  Lead General Practice Pharmacist, Mid Ulster GP Federation

Aim

To provide an overview of the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Learning outcomes

Having attended this webinar, you will be able to:

• Identify risk factors for the development of COPD
• Recognise the signs and symptoms associated with COPD
• Outline the evidence-based pharmacological management of COPD, including the initial and follow-up management
• Provide patient-centred advice and support, including non-pharmacological management strategies.