UEA’s Integrated NQP-IP Programme Sets a New Standard as First Triple-Credentialled Pharmacists Graduate

UEA’s Integrated NQP-IP Programme Sets a New Standard as First Triple-Credentialled Pharmacists Graduate

(IN BRIEF) Graduates of UEA’s pioneering NQP-IP programme have become the first pharmacists in England to secure the triple recognition comprising a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice, Independent Prescriber status, and the RPS Post-registration Foundation Credential. This integrated programme uniquely combines NQP training and Independent Prescribing simultaneously, broadening pharmacists’ scope of practice and enhancing development across all five RPS domains alongside achieving a Masters level qualification. Dana John of Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, one of the inaugural graduates, highlighted both the clinical and personal growth that the programme fostered. Developed by Dr Lindsay Morgan and evaluated by Dr Hannah Kinsey—with key contributions from Jenny Hannah—the programme was designed to address workforce challenges in pharmacist prescribing, boosting prescribing confidence among early career professionals. UEA’s approach, supported by robust benchmarking with the RPS panels, has consistently outperformed national averages. The success of the programme is bolstered by strong collaborative support from multiple NHS Trusts, paving the way for sustained advancements in clinical pharmacy practice as the prescribing role continues to evolve.

(PRESS RELEASE) NORWICH, 13-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of East Anglia’s flagship NQP-IP programme has proudly seen its first graduates emerge as the only pharmacists in England to earn the triple credential: a Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacy Practice, Independent Prescriber status, and the RPS Post-registration Foundation Credential. As the sole integrated post-registration training pathway that combines Newly Qualified Pharmacist (NQP) training with Independent Prescribing (IP), the programme cultivates an expanded scope of prescribing practice alongside comprehensive development across all five domains of the RPS credentialing process and a Masters level of academic achievement.

Dana John of Norfolk and Norwich Hospital celebrated receiving her credential on 9 April 2025, emphasizing the programme’s dual impact on her clinical expertise and personal growth. “This experience has allowed me to gain a wealth of clinical knowledge but more importantly, I’ve learned so much about myself both personally and professionally. Thank you so much for everything,” she remarked.

Conceptualized, designed, and led by Dr Lindsay Morgan, and currently under evaluation by Dr Hannah Kinsey, the programme explores candidate readiness for contemporary prescribing practices while gathering insights from both the participants and their leadership. Jenny Hannah has integrated the RPS portfolio elements with workplace assessments, ensuring that the programme generates high-quality evidence.

Dr Morgan explained the need for the NQP-IP programme as a response to workforce challenges in pharmacist prescribing. “We wanted to see how a longitudinal training structure could boost confidence in prescribing—a confidence that traditional, intensive IP courses sometimes fail to foster. We also aimed to demonstrate what early career pharmacists can achieve in prescribing with proper training and supervision. Our work here opens up a broader conversation about the prescribing capabilities of hospital pharmacists in the coming years,” she said. “These pharmacists have worked incredibly hard, and I’m immensely proud of them. I’m also very grateful to their employers and supervisors for taking this risk with us and continuing to support subsequent cohorts.”

In addition to the integrated IP pathway, UEA also sends its post-registration candidates to the RPS panels for national benchmarking, achieving pass rates well above the national average. Candidates who pursue a traditional IP course later receive their credential, and their clinical and non-clinical work has consistently met the complex and impactful criteria outlined by the RPS domain outcomes. This demonstrates that high-quality Clinical Pharmacy Practice, even without prescribing, remains vital in a healthcare landscape that is continuously evolving.

Employers partnering with UEA have played a crucial role in supporting NQP candidates through the RPS Post-registration Foundation Credential. These partners include Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Papworth NHS Foundation Trust, and West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Their collaboration marks a significant milestone in credentialing and sets the stage for further successes in the upcoming Summer credentialing round.

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SOURCE: University of East Anglia