The session will discuss a project that aims to design a framework for novice pharmacy independent prescribers (NPIPs).
As of August 2026, all graduates who complete the 52-week Foundation Training Year and pass the GPhC registration exam in the summer of 2026, will be qualified as independent prescribers at the point of registration. This represents a transformation where NPIPs will be able to prescribe from day 1 of employment.
Our project looks at designing a framework to support these NPIPs upon joining their employment in their role of being independent prescribers. There is no framework available, not for secondary care nor primary care. The project includes conducting five focus group discussions with professional groups that are directly/indirectly involved with prescribing at a hospital setting, these include: medical professionals, nurses, pharmacists, allied health professionals, and pharmacy technicians. These focus groups will help us design the framework, and then we will then have one final focus group with members from these professional groups to agree on the designed framework.
The project is still ongoing; however, we conducted three focus groups so far and we will be sharing the views of the various professional groups on NPIPs and how they could be supported.

• !. Identification of the views of various professional groups on the role of NPIPs.
• 2. Identification of preliminary features of the framework to support NPIPs.
• 3. Identification of potential needs of professional groups to facilitate their support to NPIPs.