Does the NPA offer me any support during a preregistration placement in community pharmacy?

Preregistration residential seminars and CD ROMs are available to preregistration students at a nominal rate but if you are placed with an NPA member using this clearing house system there will be a further discount.

Once you have decided that the community pharmacy sector is the area you wish to work in and you have successfully gained a placement in community pharmacy, the NPA can provide a wide range of training material to support you during your preregistration year. Here are some examples:

Preregistration indemnity insurance: The NPA offers indemnity insurance to preregistration students free of charge. For more information about this visit: www.pharmacistindemnity.co.uk

Annual Preregistration residential seminar: The NPA has been running these successful weekends for the last few years. They are extremely popular and places are limited. The seminars are open to all preregistration students working for NPA members and will provide a chance to network with other preregistration trainees. The weekends are run by NPA staff with guest speakers. Past sessions have covered the Drug Tariff, health & safety, first aid, measuring and fitting hosiery and professional practice issues. Please contact the NPA Education & Training Department for availability on 01727 858687 extension 3475.

Drug Tariff and Pharmacy Law & Ethics CD ROMs: During your preregistration year you will need to know about the Drug Tariff, Pharmacy Law & Ethics. The NPA has training material on the Drug Tariff and Pharmacy Law & Ethics specifically tailored for students.

Information Department: All NPA pharmacies have access to our comprehensive information service, during your preregistration placement with an NPA member, you will have access to this service. In answering the calls, staff access a broad range of references including a sophisticated in-house database, a specialist and comprehensive library of British and foreign pharmaceutical, medical and technical reference books, over 1,500 product data files and a range of technical CD ROMs. Queries can be on any matter relating to community pharmacy. Common topics include the Drug Tariff, NHS and Medicines Act law, details of suppliers of drugs, foreign drug equivalents as well as practice and ethical issues.