Two new pioneer curricula defining advanced pharmacist practice in critical care and mental health have been published by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in partnership with the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) and College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP) respectively.
Their publication follows a UK-wide consultation and equality impact assessments launched in February this year, after the two topics were identified through an open expression of interest process and prioritised on clear patient and service needs, supported by policy.
On announcing the curricula, Joseph Oakley, RPS associate director for assessment and credentialing, said: ‘The launch of these curricula represents a significant step forward in defining the role of advanced pharmacists in critical care and mental health. These will set clear expectations for clinical capabilities and ensure pharmacists are well-equipped to meet the needs of patients and healthcare services.’
Focus on critical care
The RPS and UKCPA advanced pharmacist critical care curriculum, developed with support from the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM), defines the advanced knowledge, skills and capabilities for advanced pharmacists to support critical care teams use medicines effectively.
This includes resuscitating, stabilising and optimising the patient during their critical illness, as well as managing pre-existing conditions and supporting discharge and rehabilitation.
Sarah Carter, UKCPA chief executive, said: ‘The launch of the UKCPA and RPS advanced pharmacist critical care curriculum is a key milestone in many ways. Firstly, it marks the successful culmination of many years of work and dedication by the UKCPA Critical Care Committee and wider community; secondly, it showcases a meaningful outcome resulting from effective collaboration between pharmacy and medical organisations, which further demonstrates the shared goals and respect for each other; and thirdly, is a landmark achievement in the recognition of specialist practice in the pharmacy profession.’
Greg Barton MBE, chair of the pharmacy subcommittee for the FICM, also noted this ‘significant step’ for pharmacists working in critical care to ‘develop and showcase their expertise’.
Mental health curriculum
The RPS and CMHP advanced pharmacist mental health curriculum defines the advanced knowledge, skills and capabilities for advanced pharmacists to support highly complex patients, populations and health and social care systems.
It focuses on improving the provision of mental health and substance use treatment; the management of comorbidities; the availability, reach and quality of harm reduction activities; and addressing some of the structural barriers faced by this population.
Commenting on the ‘fantastic news’ of the mental health curriculum’s publication, Karen Shuker, CMHP president, said: ‘The CMHP has a longstanding history of credentialing for pharmacists. The completion of the process demonstrates that they are experts in the field of mental health pharmacy. The new joint curriculum is the result of successful collaboration between pharmacy organisations which will allow for pharmacists to undertake both the specialist and core advanced credentialing. It will ultimately provide assurance that a pharmacist is practicing at the competencies needed to deliver advanced pharmaceutical care to patients.’
Future of advanced curricula
These critical care and mental health advanced curricula build on, and are supplementary to, the RPS core advanced curriculum and will be assured through the collaborative assessment of additional specialist clinical outcomes via an add-on module to the RPS core advanced e-portfolio, the RPS said.
The Society is currently developing a framework to underpin future advanced curricula and credentials using insights from these initial examples.
And an engagement event for specialist groups will be held in 2025 to determine the specific patient and service needs that require advanced practice to be defined in this way.
To this end, Ms Carter added: ‘The persistent drive and vision of the UKCPA Critical Care Committee is nothing short of inspirational and has forged a path for other specialities to follow.’
