Recent updates from BNF (BNF 90).

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

The BNF is jointly published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and BMJ. BNF is published in print twice a year and interim updates are issued and published monthly in the...

We are delighted to publish the abstracts presented at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Annual Conference 2024 in this International Journal of Pharmacy Practice Issue Supplement. The conference entitled ‘Working across boundaries: Embracing new opportunities and empowering excellence’ included the themes of: Enhancing patient care; Advancing the workforce; Science & Research; and Your RPS. It was held both online and in person at Convene, 133 Houndsditch, London on 8 November 2024. As the flagship event for the RPS, the conference hosted a full day of discussions centred on the topic of cross-boundary working, from dealing with medicines shortages, to prescribing and clinical supervision, to the strategic work of the RPS, and finally to innovations and research that will be shaping practice. The morning’s keynote presentation was delivered by Dr Liz O'Riordan, a breast oncology surgeon who herself has had breast cancer three times, speaking on the topic of high-quality care from the perspectives of being both a medical doctor and a patient. The conference also included a keynote panel discussion in the afternoon with the four of the United Kingdom’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officers, namely David Webb (NHS England), Andrew Evans (Welsh Government), Cathy Harrison (Northern Ireland), and Alison Strath (Scotland). The event included a multitude of research and innovation presentations, as posters and orals, many published as abstracts herewith. We were particularly pleased to see the return of five oral research presentations selected from the submitted abstracts, covering a breadth of methodologies. We would like to acknowledge all those who have contributed to making this event happen, in particular members of the conference steering committee co-chaired by Helen Chang and Anna Pielach at the RPS; Leah Burton and Lauren Ross from the RPS Science and Research team who managed the abstract processes; Dr Christopher Martin and Dr Diane Ashiru-Oredope, also from the RPS Science and Research team, who joined the Conference Abstract Review Panel; Science and Research Committee members who joined us on the Conference Abstract Review Panel, namely Dr Mar Estupiñan Fdez. de Mesa, Dr Andy Fox, Prof. Amira Guirguis, Dr Gillian Hawksworth, Prof. Delyth James, Dr Rachel Palmer, and Dr Ka-Wai Wan, as well as additional members of the Conference Abstract Review Panel, including Dr Paul Forsyth, Ola Howell, Dr Louise Hughes, Dr Matthew Ivory, Prof. Catriona Mathieson, Prof. Hamde Nazar, Prof. Philip Rogers, Dr Julian Smith, and Dr Sara Visram. In common with previous years, this Supplement has been prepared ahead of the conference, so that it is ready in time. Simon White, Cathrine McKenzie, Christine Bond, Amira Guirguis, and Parastou Donyai Simon White, Deputy Chair of the RPS Science and Research Committee and co-Chair of the Conference Abstract Review Panel Keele University Cathrine A McKenzie, member of the RPS Science and Research Committee and co-Chair of the Conference Abstract Review Panel University of Southampton Christine Bond, Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, member of the RPS Science and Research Committee and co-Chair of the Conference Abstract Review Panel University of Aberdeen Amira Guirguis, Chair of the RPS Science and Research Committee Swansea University Parastou Donyai, RPS Chief Scientist The Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Introduction Scottish Government aims to increase numbers of pharmacist independent prescribers (IP) in community to improve healthcare access. This includes utilising qualified IPs as Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPP) to increase capacity to supervise pharmacists on IP courses. Aim To investigate views and perceptions of practice-based stakeholders and identify potential influences on DPP implementation for Scottish community pharmacists (CP) Methods A theory-based cross-sectional online survey of stakeholders involved in DPP role implementation (e.g. Directors of Pharmacy, Prescribing Leads, IP qualified CPs) was employed. Participation invites were shared with Scottish health boards and CP organisations via email and social media. Snowball sampling was used so no key individual was omitted. The questionnaire was informed by Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) DPP Framework (1) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (2). It examined views and awareness of DPP role, implementation drivers, and obstacles. The tool was reviewed for credibility and dependability then piloted. Data were analysed descriptively. Results Ninety-nine responses were received (NB: Since this was a national survey of multiple stakeholders without a defined sample list, response rate was indeterminate). Two-fifths (n=39, 40.2%) were community pharmacists with majority qualified for more than 10 years (n=76, 76.8%). Only 18 had previous involvement with IP courses. The table shows awareness and views of the role based on RPS framework. Respondents had positive attitudes to DPP implementation with the majority supporting it (72, 73.5%) and believing that its advantages outweigh any disadvantages (74, 75.5%). Facilitators of successful implementation were having clearly defined leadership roles (89, 90.9%), piloting (85, 87.6%), and incentives (65, 88.8%). Drivers for uptake of role included improving patient care (94, 96%) and the profession (91, 92.8%), self-development (91, 92.8%), developing individual pharmacists (89, 90.8%), payment (77, 79.4%), and being recognised by peers/employers (73, 75.2%). Conclusion There was positivity regarding DPP role, its acceptability in, and advantages for CP. Resource-related concerns were expressed that need further consideration to ensure effective implementation. This is the first study internationally to explore views on DPP role. Given the Scottish focus, findings may lack generalisability. Future research should focus on theory-based evaluation of structures and processes of implementation. References (1) Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Designated Prescribing Practitioner Competency Framework [internet]. London: Royal Pharmaceutical Society; 2019 [Cited 28/09/2021]. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/resources/frameworks/designated-prescribing-practitioner-competency-framework (2) Damschroder LJ, Aron DC, Keith RE, Kirsh SR, Alexander JA, Lowery JC. Fostering implementation of health services research findings into practice: a consolidated framework for advancing implementation science. Implement Sci. 2009;4:50.

BackgroundInflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) are currently not embedded in UK IBD services and therefore neither recognised by policy makers nor commissioned by service providers. We report...

The Welsh Pharmacy Board Chair, Mair Davies, was presented with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Charter Award at the RPS Annual Conference in Birmingham on 8 September 2014. The award was presented by Ash Soni, President of the RPS, who praised Davies for her outstanding commitment and dedication to the profession over many years. For more information, visit http://www.rpharms.com/what-s-happening-/news_show.asp?id=1310