New Supports for Pharmacy

New Supports and updated training for pharmacists on the IIOP website

The Irish Institute of Pharmacy (IIOP) is excited to announce new and updated online training programmes and resources to support pharmacists this Autumn through the IIOP website.

Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy: Supports for Pharmacists

A comprehensive set of resources will be available on the IIOP website to provide information to pharmacists relating to the Recommendations of the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy.

IIOP Resource Hub

The IIOP Resource Hub has a dedicated section providing information on the Pharmacy Expert Taskforce Recommendations. Visit the IIOP Resource Hub, Expert Taskforce, or use the following link: https:// iiop.ie/content/expert-taskforce.

Resources for Phase 1 Recommendations: Empowering Pharmacists to Extend Prescriptions

Following recommendations from the Expert Taskforce to Support the Expansion of the Role of Pharmacy, new legislation effective September 1 allows pharmacists to extend and dispense certain prescriptions written on or after March 1, 2024, from six months to a maximum of 12 months where appropriate. The IIOP is providing resources including webinars, workshops and support materials to support pharmacists in implementing Recommendation 1 – Prescription Extension.

For further information on any of the training programmes and workshops, visit the dedicated ‘Expert Taskforce Information and Resources’ section of the Resource Hub on the IIOP Website.

Upcoming events this autumn include:

• ‘In Conversation With…’ Webinar: August 28, 2024, introducing the new suite of resources

• ‘In Conversation With…’ Webinar: September 11, 2024, discussing practical implementation of Phase 1 Recommendations

• Interactive Workshops: Three online workshops throughout autumn will provide practical application through case studies, directed at enhancing pharmacists’ skills and confidence

Seasonal Influenza Vaccines:

As the influenza season approaches pharmacists can enrol in the following courses on the IIOP website.

• Delivery of a Pharmacy-Based Vaccination Service

• Responding to an Emergency Situation including the Management of Anaphylaxis (RESMA)

• Administration of Influenza Vaccine 2024/2025

Pharmacists should log into the IIOP website, navigate to the ‘Courses and Events’ page, and select the ‘Vaccination Training’ tab to register.

To administer the seasonal influenza vaccine to adults and children aged 6 months and older, pharmacists must complete the following five training programs, each with a specific validity period. Pharmacists should check their certificate dates and the validity of each program as outlined on the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) website.

For more information on these training programmes you can visit the IIOP site and click on the dedicated Training for the Supply and Administration of Emergency Medicines and Vaccinations page, on the ‘Courses and Events’ dropdown menu.