Experiential Learning – Community Pharmacy Continues to Play a Leading Role

As many pharmacists are already aware, a key aspect of the ongoing reforms to pharmacy education and training, is the increasing time that pharmacy undergraduates must spend on experiential learning (or “EL”) placements in each of the main pharmacy sectors – community, general practice, and hospital.  Since the beginning of the EL programme, community pharmacy has been a leading provider and hosted 770 EL placement weeks during the 2023/2024 period. 

The sector’s vital contribution will continue in 2024/2025, with over 200 community pharmacies signed up to host EL students.  The programme was officially launched by the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Prof. Cathy Harrison on 14^th October, with visits to EL training sites within each sector, including Clear Pharmacy on the Lisburn Road, Belfast. 

At the launch Gerard Greene, CPNI Chief Executive spoke of the importance of the community pharmacy sector in supporting pharmacy students: “CPNI is extremely proud that feedback for our sector to date has been so positive, with 91% of students agreeing that their community pharmacy placement helped them feel more confident and competent in their professional skills.

 As we all know, learning in theory is essential, but building practical experience and confidence is an equally vital step for the pharmacists of the future.  We wish the next cohort of EL students a very productive and enriching experience and hope it allows them to gain an insight into the expanding clinical role of the community pharmacists.”

Further information is available here