How do I know what standard is expected of me?
The practice standards for consultation skills set out the knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes you need when communicating and consulting with patients. In working towards these practice standards you will need to take a holistic view of the patient and to understand the specific health needs of your local population. As a pharmacy professional, it is your responsibility to develop your knowledge and competence1 and to integrate these standards into your everyday practice.
These national practice standards for consultation skills define the competencies that all pharmacy professionals should aspire to in their practice. We have adopted the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) framework when developing these practice standards, to help integrate pharmacy with other healthcare professions. We have also considered components of the medication-related consultation framework,2 a validated tool for assessing the consultation.
The standards are divided into the following areas:
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Managing the patient-centred consultation
- Organisational and management skills
- Key consultation skills and behaviours, including those relating to health coaching and taking a patient-centred approach
- Context specific skills
- Delivering a comprehensive approach to patient care
- Understanding the health needs of your population
- Essential features that relate to you as a pharmacy professional
You can access a PDF of the practice standards at the link opposite.