Clinically Enhanced Prescribing in Acute and Emergency Medicine

Module overview

Studied via blended learning (online and in-person sessions), this standalone module provides an in-depth exploration of clinically enhanced prescribing in acute and emergency medicine, equipping independent prescribers with the knowledge, skills and clinical confidence required to manage patients in high-pressure environments. Ideal for healthcare professionals aiming to advance their prescribing capabilities, it enhances your ability to make critical decisions in acute and emergency settings.

The indicative content of the module includes patient assessment and prescribing across key clinical areas, including respiratory, cardiac, pancreatic, trauma, abdominal and ophthalmology. It also covers the identification of urgent cases and the delivery of immediate life support, ensuring you are prepared to respond effectively in emergency situations.

This is a level 7 module (equivalent level of study to a postgraduate or masters degree) worth 15 credits.

Module tutor(s): Moortooza Puttaroo; Debbie Kemp; Jaime Miks; Gagandeep Degun

This 15-credit standalone module can be completed by itself, or after the successful completion of the 45-credit Pharmacist Independent Prescribing standalone module in order to graduate with a full 60-credit Postgraduate Certificate in Clinically Enhanced Independent Prescribing.

Why Clinically Enhanced Prescribing in Acute and Emergency at Aston University?

Professionally accredited

Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Professional development

Enhances your pharmacy practice and patient care by enabling you to independently manage patients' medications

Safe in our hands

Ranked first in the UK for ‘continuation’ (Pharmacology and Pharmacy; Complete University Guide, 2025)

Professionally approved

Approved by Health Education England

Objectives and outcomes

Develops your knowledge, skills and clinical confidence to prepare you as an independent prescriber in Acute Medicine and Emergency Medicine.
Equips you to effectively manage patients within these critical clinical categories.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

Understand, apply and assess professional knowledge and skills commensurate with being an independent prescriber within Acute Medicine and Emergency Medicine.
Utilise clinical and professional collaboration with patients and other healthcare workers.

Speak to our Admissions Team

If you have any questions about the application process please get in touch with our postgraduate admissions team:

Email: professionalcpd@aston.ac.uk

Call: 0121 204 3200 (Please note this line is open Monday-Friday between 09.30am-4.30pm)

Read our guide to applying

Entry requirements

You must be a registered pharmacist, nurse, midwife or allied health professional (AHP) with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), or Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) employed in a patient-facing role, and be of good standing with your regulatory body.

You should also have:

At least two years (pharmacist) or one year (Nurse and AHP) post-registration experience within a patient facing role.
Appropriate patient-orientated experience practising in a hospital, community or primary care setting following your pre-registration year.
Up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to your intended area of prescribing practice.
Can demonstrate that you reflect on your own performance and take responsibility for your own CPD.

Completed the Practice Certificate in Pharmacist Independent Prescribing at Aston University or an equivalent independent and supplementary prescribing qualification and annotated as an independent prescriber with your regulatory body.

A suitably qualified clinical supervisor to complete 25 hours of in-practice learning and a clinical framework. This will need to confirmed by the commencement of the programme and is applicants responsibility to organise.

Clinical supervisor information

Students will be required to organise a clinical supervisor to complete 25 hours of supervised practice and a clinical framework as part of the module requirements. You will be required to confirm these details prior to commencing the module. This can be a consultant, registrar or experienced advanced clinical practitioner (ACP), however they should have experience in teaching and supervision and working within an area of acute or emergency medicine.

Ideally clinical supervisors should have:

Active prescribing competence applicable to the area in which they will be supervising
3 years recent prescribing experience
Appropriate patient facing clinical and diagnostic skills
Supported and supervised other healthcare professionals
Have the ability assess patient facing clinical and diagnostic skills.
Please contact Moortooza Puttaroo (m.puttaroo@aston.ac.uk) should you have any queries regarding eligibility for the role or would like further information.

The role of the clinical supervisor is “to oversee, support and assess the competence of trainees, in collaboration with academic and workplace partners, during the period of in-practice learning”.

Key tasks include: facilitating learning opportunities, assessing, action planning, student development, formative assessment, review meetings, final sign off.

Support for clinical supervisors

We value the input of all healthcare professionals in order to help our students succeed and excel; therefore we offer online training to ensure you feel prepared to carry out your role. Support through individual mentoring will also be available for less experienced clinical supervisors where needed.

Desirable
A relevant postgraduate clinical diploma (or equivalent) is desirable (Pharmacists only)
We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications and experience.
The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. If you hold an alternative qualification, you may wish to enquire with our admissions team prior to application whether or not your qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications, this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the programme director.

Fees

UK / International students (2024/25)

£650 per 10 credits (£900 for full module)

More information on fees

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as UK students.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees

Delivery and assessment

This course is delivered via blended learning (online and in-person sessions). You will access learning materials for general study, revision and assessment via our virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This platform allows you to access a comprehensive range of study materials, scientific journals, e-journals, databases and much more.
This standalone module comprises four face-to-face days, directed learning activities online via Blackboard and 25 hours of in-practice learning under the supervision of an approved clinical supervisor.

Method of delivery	Learning hours
Specialist session activity	35 hours
Independent activity	70 hours
Structured activity	15 hours
Placement activity	25 hours
Formative assessment activity	5 hours
Total	150 hours

Assessment
This module includes three assessment components designed to enhance your clinical skills, reflective practice and application of knowledge in real-world scenarios:
Portfolio: A 3,000-word portfolio reflecting on 25 hours of practice experience, including activity records, tasks, reflections, learning goals, and competence sign-offs.
Clinical framework log: A log documenting competence in around 30 clinical skills across six areas, with each skill signed off by a tutor or clinical supervisor.
Written reflection: A 1,500-word reflection on your learning journey, focusing on how your clinical practice has developed and setting future goals.

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Career prospects

Successful candidates will enhance their confidence, skills and practice as an autonomous clinician. Enabling full management of patients’ assessment, medication and condition as a clinically enhanced independent prescriber.
The programme will enhance your career opportunities, enable you to become a holistically focused practitioner and empower you to focus on person-centred care provision.