Working in a Pharmacy Environment

This module provides an introduction to working in a pharmacy environment. It covers the key responsibilities regarding health and safety, standard operating procedures (SOPs), laws and regulations, including information governance, and safeguarding the public, including whistleblowing. You will be introduced to the requirements of learning and development, and its importance in delivering high-quality care to patients.

Teamwork and Person-Centred Care

You will understand the roles of the pharmacy staff, including the wider multidisciplinary team, and the importance of teamwork, and be introduced to effective communication and customer service. You'll also be introduced to the concept of person-centred care and the communication skills required to deliver high-quality care to patients.

Your Role as an HCA

This module focuses on the considerations for selling over-the-counter medicines and providing healthcare advice, including protocols for questioning customers at the medicines counter, and the misuse and abuse of over-the-counter medicines.

Receiving and Interpreting Prescriptions

This module teaches the knowledge and skills required to accept prescriptions presented to the dispensary and interpret the information on it to ensure it is ready for dispensing.

Knowledge for Assembling Prescriptions

This module introduces dispensary equipment, resources, calculations and abbreviations which underpin the dispensing processes and are required to dispense or label prescription items.

Skills for Assembling Prescriptions

This module covers the practical processes and skills required to safely and hygienically dispense a prescription, including the checks each prescription will undergo.

Stock

You will understand how to order, receive, maintain and supply pharmaceutical stock, along with any administrative tasks associated with these processes.

Controlled Drugs

This module focuses on the additional legislation and procedures required for handling and dispensing controlled drugs safely.

Handing Out Prescriptions and Patient Counselling

This module teaches the knowledge and skills required to understand the role of the dispensing assistant in issuing prescriptions to patients and communicating effectively with them regarding their dispensed medicines.

Pain and Analgesia

This module is about pain, outlining the common minor ailments causing it, along with drug treatments available to treat it.

Coughs and Colds

This module covers coughs and colds, their symptoms, treatments, the questions to ask and advice you should be giving, as well as reasons to refer.

Gastrointestinal Problems

This module covers gastrointestinal problems, their symptoms, treatments, the questions to ask and advice that should be given, as well as reasons to refer.

Travel and Summer Health

This module covers the medicines required by travellers, both to treat and prevent disease.

Ears, Eyes and Mouth

This module is about problems of the ears, eyes and mouth, their symptoms, treatments, the questions to ask and advice that should be given, as well as reasons to refer.

Skin, Hair and Feet

This module is about problems associated with skin, hair and feet, their symptoms, treatments, the questions to ask and advice that should be given, as well as reasons to refer.

Women's Health and Men's Health

This module covers some minor ailments suffered by specific genders, how to treat them effectively and when to refer.

Healthy Lifestyles

The medicines counter assistant has an important role to play in promoting wellbeing and healthy lifestyles to the public. This module covers some of the healthy messages and advice that should be given to patients.

Clinical Governance

This module introduces the concept of clinical governance within dispensaries, including error monitoring, error reduction, audits, information governance and quality payments.

Wider Pharmacy Services

This module explores the services offered by pharmacies and other healthcare providers, to improve patient access to medicines, screening services and advice, and how the dispensing assistant can support the wider team with this.