After setting the context of independent prescribing by community pharmacists from a historical and policy perspective, the session will go on to examine the work being undertaken to prepare both the system and community pharmacists for independent prescribing becoming mainstream in England.

Case studies and examples will be used to demonstrate the potential of how Independent prescribing could be used in community pharmacy alongside an examination of the issues that need to be resolved before we get to that point.

Learning outcomes:

• An understanding of the context in which independent prescribing by community pharmacists could become mainstream
• A knowledge of the work being undertaken to prepare both the sector and the system for that change
• An appreciation of the issues that need to be resolved in order to facilitate widespread independent prescribing by community pharmacists