Welcome from Donna Towers, Pharmacy Technician Ambassador

Hello, my name is Donna, I am the Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub Pharmacy Technician Ambassador.

I have been a Pharmacy Technician in the NHS for over 25 years, with experience in community, secondary care, health and justice, and most recently within primary care.I currently work as the Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician for the ICB  and work closely with the wider MDT across Coventry and Warwickshire.

My role as Ambassador is to support the Pharmacy Technician workforce, from pre-registration pharmacy technicians through to those more established.  I will provide monthly peer support, be a point of contact for advice or mentorship, and facilitate education and career development.

I will promote the Pharmacy Technician role within primary care to showcase the scope of practice and skill sets that can add value to GP practices, the wider MDT, and patient outcomes

Primary Care in Practice

We understand that starting out in independent practice can be daunting, and there may be other non-clinical skills that you wish to explore and develop to enhance your experience and confidence.

We want to help you feel prepared and confident while learning alongside your new colleagues and peers. That’s why we’re excited to offer a free learning program open to the wider Primary Care Workforce, organised by the Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub and hosted by local GPs. These sessions will be held as a combination of virtual sessions (through Zoom) and face-to-face sessions.

Topics include:

  • What support is available to those working within Primary Care?
  • What is Primary Care?
  • Leadership structure within Primary Care
  • The different roles and responsibilities within Primary Care

For more information, please register your interest here or email any questions to crgpa.education.cwth@nhs.net

Learning Opportunities and Peer Support

Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)

The APTUK runs courses, conferences and seminars where you can learn new skills and exchange ideas with peers.

Its Foundation Pharmacy Framework (FPF) exists to support pharmacy professionals in their professional development and inform any training requirements. You do not have to be a member to access this document.

Members have access to the following information and advice:

  • Branch networks where you can meet other pharmacy technicians and to share experiences and skills and support your CPD
  • Pharmacy Technicians Journal which covers news and up to date information on practice, policy as well as the national healthcare landscape
  • Members portal with hot topics, professional development and free revalidation support
  • Annual professional conference where you can expand your skillset with masterclasses and workshops
  • Additional support in your early years from APTUK ‘champions’ where they will review your CPD records before you submit them reviewed ahead of submission – champions are pharmacy technicians with more than two years’ knowledge

Centre for Postgraduate Pharmacy Education (CPPE)

The CPPE offer a wide range of learning pathways and training programmes in a variety of formats to enhance your existing skills. Access topic-specific resources linked to current NHS priorities, as well as clinical pharmacy and public health content hubs.

In addition, CPEE’s coaching support service is available to General Pharmaceutical Council registrants working in the NHS in England. Coaches can support you to achieve a work-related goal and work through any challenges. The service is free of charge.

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)

The NPA offers a selection of GPhC accredited and non accredited courses via its interactive e-learning platform NPA Learning Academy. Here you can upskill in a range of clinical practice and business skills and record your CPD.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society can access its e-library of pharmacy texts, join top pharmacy experts for online lectures and courses, as well as benefit from mentoring support.

Pharmacy Technician Conference – June 2025

Resources from the event are available to download below:

Leadership development

Midlands Leadership and Lifelong Learning Academy

The academy offers a series of leadership programmes to support you in developing your skills, attitudes and behaviours to achieve the highest standards in health and care.

Pharmacist holding medicine box and capsule pack in pharmacy drugstore.

Centre For Pharmacy Postgraduate Education

The Centre For Pharmacy Postgraduate Education has launched its new gateway page; a landing page for all things Pharmacy Technician, including free CPPE training and other resources.

Compliance

Fitness to practice

All Pharmacy Technicians need to complete a ‘fitness to practice’ declaration with their annual renewal to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). You’ll need to report any health issues, professional wrongdoing or criminal investigation/convictions. Failure to comply with these rules could result in a fitness to practice investigation. For further information about reporting fitness to practice issues, including what to do if something changes during the year, see the GPhC website.

Revalidation

Pharmacy Technicians are required by the GPhC to keep their professional skills and knowledge up to date. You are also required to reflect on how you can improve and demonstrate how you provide safe and effective care for patients, as set out in the standards for pharmacy professionals. This process is called revalidation.

Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) Podcasts

In these short conversations, pharmacy technicians talk about the variety of roles and opportunities for the profession, and the contribution they make to patient care. To listen to these podcasts, please click here.

Your Health and Wellbeing

We understand how busy and challenging working in healthcare can be. That’s why recharging your batteries is so important.

The Training Hub offers a wide variety of resources and programmes to support your wellbeing.

  • Work Well Programme (Shapes Toolkit)
  • Employee Assistance Programme (Vivup)
  • Wellbeing Sessions with MIND
  • Health and Wellbeing Champions
  • And more!

For more information and to view all our resources, please visit our webpage.

Medicines Safety

Medicine Error Lessons

Newsletters (For reference)

Prescribing Focus

Additional Learning Resources

  • PCPA – Annual subscription required
  • PresQIPP – Free access for Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians in Coventry and Warwickshire
  • MorPh – Clinical Training provider for Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians and Trainees