Educational support
There are no mandatory training requirements to deliver the PFS but evidence of competence is required. Pharmacy contractors “must keep documentary evidence that pharmacy staff involved in the provision of the service are competent and remain up to date regarding the specific skills and knowledge that are appropriate to their role, and to the aspects of the service they are delivering.”5
The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) covers recommended training material at https://www.cppe.ac.uk/services/pharmacy-first/. Topics include the service specification, diagnostic resources associated with the clinical conditions, and treatment resources, such as on the use of antibiotics.8
CPPE and NHS England have developed a self-assessment framework for the PFS to help pharmacists reflect on the knowledge, skills and behaviours essential for providing all parts of the PFF. Going through the self-assessment will help identify knowledge gaps to formulate a learning action plan.8
In addition, competences for safeguarding children (several of the clinical pathways include treatments for children), vulnerable adults, confidentiality and data protection should be considered.