Simon Wright / The Pharmaceutical Journal
Almost £3m is being invested by the Scottish government to expand experiential learning of student pharmacists, with some funding being used to enable students to experience remote and rural practice.
Under the Scottish Pharmacy Experiential Learning scheme, student pharmacists currently undertake experiential learning in community pharmacy and hospitals, but a funding injection of £2.85m for 2018/2019 will enable them to experience new settings such as primary care and NHS 24.
The scheme is organised through a partnership between Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde, NHS Education for Scotland and other pharmacy stakeholders.
“This funding will enhance the experiential learning of student pharmacists, making the hands-on experience more fruitful and maximising support to students,” said Rose Marie Parr, chief pharmaceutical officer for Scotland.
“It is vital that we continue to invest in our pharmacists of the future, so that the use of medicines can be optimised and ensure that patients continue to get the best results from their medicines. I would like to thank the Universities and NHS partners for taking forward this exciting initiative.”
Anne Boyter, director of teaching and deputy head of Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences and member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Scottish Pharmacy Board, described it as “a hugely exciting development for pharmacy education”.
“It will enhance the professional growth and development of our students and support them as they gain valuable experience where they can integrate classroom learning with real-life patient-facing pharmacy experience,” she said.
