Courses and Events

Functions of this network:

· To share knowledge, learning and experience in AMS, both across and within sectors

· To provide a discussion forum for members

· To share AMS work and foster creativity and innovation in AMS

· To assist in the provision of CPD for pharmacists with an interest in AMS

The focus of this IIOP online training programme is to raise awareness amongst pharmacists of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship principles, and to highlight the important role of the pharmacist in optimising antibiotic use and reducing antimicrobial-related harm in a person-centred way.

At the end of this programme learners will:

• Be able to articulate the basic principles of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) & antimicrobial resistance,

• Have an awareness of the role of AMRIC, the national clinical programme for antimicrobial resistance and infection control,

• Appreciate the national AMS initiatives and their rationale, including the red/green antibiotic list,

• Be familiar with how to access the relevant supports & clinical resources,

• Be able to articulate issues to ensure maximum benefit and minimum harm for the people who take antimicrobials,

• Have increased confidence to implement AMS in their work practices.

The training programme is designed to ensure achievement of the learning outcomes which are as follows:

a) Identify the general factors that must be considered in the management of benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the primary care setting; 

b) Understand the implications of the introduction of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 on the prescribing and dispensing of benzodiazepines and z-drugs; 

c) Articulate the specific factors that should be addressed by Practitioners in the prescribing, supply and ongoing review of patients who are taking benzodiazepines and z-drugs; 

d) Identify the potential risks associated with benzodiazepines and z-drugs in the primary care setting and strategies to mitigate these; 

e) Describe strategies that could be employed in a collaborative approach to patient care in the management of benzodiazepines and z-drugs.

Following completion of this training programme, learners will be able to:

• Describe what polypharmacy is
• Recognise appropriate and inappropriate polypharmacy
• Describe how polypharmacy can occur
• Describe the types of Medication Review, their role and their limitations
• Describe tools that can be used to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing/polypharmacy
• Outline some high-risk medication classes and the circumstances in which their potential harms might outweigh benefits
• Work in partnership with the patient, educating patients to optimise complex medication regimens and minimise the potential for adverse outcomes and to sign post patients to other services where appropriate
• Undertake patient-centred discussions about polypharmacy, prioritise interventions and agree referral strategies as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Signpost to Existing Resources and Toolkits.

This training programme must be completed if you wish to offer a salbutamol emergency medicine service to your patients. You will also need to complete the Responding to an Emergency Service and the Management of Anaphylaxis and keep your CPR training up to date.

Learning Objectives 

• Diagnose and treat an acute asthma attack
• Refresh knowledge on the properties and usage of salbutamol.
• Supply and administer salbutamol in emergency situations
• Manage possible side effects or adverse events resulting from administration of salbutamol
• Store salbutamol in line with the SmPC
• Make appropriate records following supply and administration of salbutamol in an emergency

This recorded webinar provides information on the 2023 changes to the Core Competency Framework (CCF) and its CPD implications. It provides the opportunity to explore how the revised Core Competency Framework (CCF) supports your CPD.

It will cover changes to the CCF, and provide guidance on how to self-assess against the revised framework, using objective evidence, feedback and reflective practice.

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to:

• Respond to, and prepare for, an emergency in the pharmacy setting
• Perform relevant diagnoses on patients in order to administer the correct medicine in an emergency situation
• Treat a patient (post drug administration) who is suffering from an adverse reaction or delayed adverse reactions
• Diagnose and treat anaphylaxis in both adults and children
• Supply and administer adrenaline to both adults and children in emergency situations

Following completion of the training programme, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the legislative process as it relates to pharmacy, how to find and interpret legislation and articulate why legislation is important for pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy
2. Articulate the role and function of the PSI
3. Demonstrate an understanding of pharmacy and medicines legislation relevant to the role of pharmacists practising in Ireland
4. Reflect on the practical application of legislation relevant to practice

On successful completion of this programme pharmacists should be able to competently and safely:

• Prepare the pharmacy setting for a vaccination service
• Perform relevant assessment of patients in order to administer the correct medicine

The learning objective of this training programme is to help pharmacists reflect on and develop the way in which they respond to medicines-related queries in practice. Through the learning on this programme and the use of practice opportunities, the pharmacist will become familiar with the use of evidence-based reputable information resources to help formulate responses to medicines-related queries that they would encounter in their practice. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their current practice when answering medicines related questions in practice by interacting with practice scenarios, developed from questions received by the NMIC and presented to reflect a typical interaction pharmacist would experience on a daily basis in practice. 

The learning objective is achieved through the achievement of four learning outcomes:

1. Reflect on their own behaviours and outcomes when responding to medicines related questions in current practice
2. Identify essential information required to answer a medicines-related question;
3. Research a medicines-related question using appropriate information resources
4. Understand the principles of formulating an answer to a medicines-related query and apply to practical examples.

By completing this training, you will:

• Update your clinical knowledge and understanding of the modes of action and uses of Lithium
• Acquire evidence-based knowledge of the side effects and monitoring requirements of Lithium, particularly with regard to patient safety and support,
• Be familiar with the relevant available clinical resources, and where these are found,
• Be able to articulate issues to be considered in ensuring the safety of people who take Lithium,
• Be able to identify, prevent, minimise, resolve and follow-up medication safety issues associated with this medicine,
• Have the confidence to support your patients undergoing treatment with Lithium.

By completing this training, you will:

• Update your clinical knowledge and understanding of the modes of action and uses of Clozapine,
• Acquire evidence-based knowledge of the side effects and monitoring requirements of Clozapine, particularly with regard to patient support,
• Be familiar with the relevant available clinical resources, and where these are found,
• Be able to articulate issues to be considered in ensuring the safety of people who take Clozapine,
• Be able to identify, prevent, minimise, resolve and follow-up medication safety issues associated with this medicine,
• Have the confidence to support your patients undergoing treatment with Clozapine.

1. Understanding Cancer in Ireland

This module focuses on some background information on cancer suitable for healthcare professionals working in a primary care setting. At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

• • Describe cancer including causes, prevention and incidence in Ireland
  • Outline the roles and implications of national advisory bodies in the prevention, early detection, treatment and management of cancer e.g. NCCP, ICPN, NCPE, Healthy Ireland
  • Identify sources of guidance for obtaining information on specific treatments and side effects.
  • Describe pathways for referral of patients from primary to secondary care
  • Identify education and patient information leaflets patients and carers should receive from their treating hospital/ other sources

2. Cancer Treatment Options

This module highlights the different treatment modalities available for cancer but focuses on the use of OAM. At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

• Describe the use of systemic therapy (including chemotherapy / immunotherapy / hormonal therapy / monoclonal antibodies etc.), radiotherapy, surgical oncology and supportive care to achieve treatment goals.
• Differentiate between curative, adjuvant, neo-adjuvant and palliative treatment goals, when these each apply and the clinical implications of same
• Describe classification of OAM and hormonal agents
• Discuss common OAM regimens used and awareness of national NCCP chemotherapy regimens
• Identify sources of further guidance for obtaining information on specific treatments and side effects

3. OAM Prescribing and Dispensing

This module focuses on the aspects involved in the prescribing and safe dispensing of OAM. At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

• Accurately verify OAM prescriptions within scope of practice
  • • Use of national NCCP chemotherapy regimens and other reference sources
• Perform pharmaceutical dosing calculations accurately, e.g.

• Weight or Body Surface Area calculations
  • Demonstrate awareness of dose banding, capping and rounding
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of occupational hazards of exposure to;
    •  Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy drugs including oral anti-cancer medicines (OAM)
    • Waste
      • including basic safe handling procedures i.e. disposal of chemotherapeutic waste

Explain the processes for acquisition, storage and supply of Oral Anti-Cancer Medicines

4. OAM - Patient Counselling including Toxicity

This module focuses on some key points in relation to patient counselling for patients on OAM. At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

• • Identify ways to support patient adherence to OAM regimens
    • Include importance of adhering to dosing schedule
  • Describe issues surrounding adverse events and toxicity management in relation to OAM
• Identify symptoms and management of toxicity
  • • Awareness of the requirement for monitoring blood counts with some OAM  (at hospital level)
    • Dose reductions in renal and hepatic impairment
    • Knowledge on  identification, monitoring and appropriate reporting of adverse drug events
• Recognise the clinical significance of drug-drug and drug-food interactions with OAM and drugs used to prevent and alleviate symptoms
  • Outline the effectiveness, safety and potential for interactions of OAM with complementary and alternative medicines
  • Identify sources of further guidance for obtaining information on specific treatments and side effects

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to competently and safely:

• Respond to, and prepare for, a request for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination in the pharmacy setting
• Perform relevant assessment of patients in order to administer the correct medicine
• Administer pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to adults

On successful completion of this programme participants should be able to competently and safely:

• Respond to, and prepare for, a request for Herpes Zoster (Shingles) vaccination in the pharmacy setting
• Perform relevant assessment of patients in order to administer the correct medicine
• Administer Herpes Zoster (Shingles) vaccine in adults

On successful completion of this programme pharmacists should be able to competently and safely:

• Respond to, and prepare for, a request for influenza vaccination in the pharmacy setting
• Perform relevant assessment of patients in order to administer the correct medicine
• Administer influenza vaccine to adults and children (aged 6 months and over)

The Training Programme contains five modules;

1. Quality management Principles
2. Quality management Systems
3. Quality Improvement
4. Applying Quality Improvement methods in a Pharmacy Setting
5. Running a Quality Improvement in your practice

Aim

To provide health professionals with the knowledge to deliver evidence-based care to patients with diabetes.

Having completed this course you should be able to:

• identify risk factors associated with developing diabetes
• distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• describe evidence-based practice in managing patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
• recognise the various parameters that are used to judge metabolic control
• make recommendations to prevent the complications of diabetes or manage them should they occur and educate patients in relation to this
• provide guidance on monitoring diabetes in special cases, such as pregnancy
• provide accurate, quality and safe information to patients and healthcare professionals regarding pharmacological management of diabetes
  • encourage and facilitate patient adherence to medicines.

The aim of this training is to enable pharmacists to:

• Diagnose and treat hypoglycaemia
• Refresh their knowledge on the properties and usage of glucagon
• Supply and administer glucagon in emergency situations in line with SI 449 of 2015
• Manage possible side effects or adverse events resulting from administration of glucagon
• Store glucagon in line with the SmPC
• Make appropriate records following supply and administration of glucagon in an emergency
• To provide pharmacists with the knowledge to provide emergency care to patients with diabetes

Aim

To promote effective management of hypertension and dyslipidaemia thereby assisting patients to reduce their risk of CVD.

Following completion of this course, you should be able to:

• define CVD, disease burden and public health policy in Ireland
• promote role of pharmacists in identifying and assessing CV risk factors
• use evidence-based guidelines and resources to conduct medication reviews and optimise treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia
• educate patients about CVD prevention, self-management and lifestyle strategies
• provide accurate and safe information to patients and HCPs on the drug management of CV risk factors
• encourage and facilitate patient adherence to medicines
• prevent/resolve problems that patients experience with medicines
• identify the need for, plan and implement new services relating to CVD prevention with a focus on optimising disease management.

Module 1: Respiratory Illness in Ireland (30 min approx.)

Aim: To provide an overview of common respiratory illnesses and direct pharmacists to sources of further information.

At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

· Describe the burden of respiratory disease in Ireland

· Define the most common respiratory illnesses in Ireland (COPD and Asthma) including causes, risk-factors, prevention (where applicable) and incidence in Ireland

· Identify patient support groups for each of the illnesses

· Identify education and patient information leaflets patients and carers should receive from their treating hospital/ other sources on diagnosis and for ongoing management of their illness

Module 2: Medicines Management (45 min approx.)

Aim: To further build on pharmacist’s knowledge of medicines used to treat respiratory illness and devices used for delivery of these medicines.

At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

· Describe the GINA (asthma) and GOLD (COPD) statements in relation to control of each chronic respiratory illness

· Describe the different medications used to treat respiratory illnesses

· Identify medications to prevent exacerbations and control symptoms and those to treat an exacerbation of the illness

· explain the benefits, side-effects and interactions of inhaled medications and oral medications to treat respiratory conditions

· identify the role of relievers and preventers in respiratory illness

· detail the equivalent doses of inhaled corticosteroids

· relay the benefits and issues with combination inhalers

· be able to describe the types of inhalers currently available, their underlying principles, design and functionality, and highlight the similarities and differences between them and demonstrate the correct use of each of these devices

· provide advice regarding the most appropriate inhaler device for a particular patient group and advise on the use of spacer devices and nebulisers where appropriate

· have insight into the factors contributing to the effectiveness of inhaler therapy (including common mistakes made by patients) and ways to optimise treatment outcomes

· be equipped with the knowledge and resources to explain and demonstrate the importance of a correct inhaler technique to patients

· understand the patient requirements for an ideal inhaler device and support a personalised approach to inhaler therapy.

Module 3: Supporting Patient Self-Management (30 min approx.)

Aim: To provide guidance to pharmacists on how they can support patient’s self-management of their respiratory illness.

At the end of this module, pharmacists will be able to;

· Describe what patient self-management is including self-care plans

· Provide advice to patients on living well with a respiratory illness e.g. the importance of vaccination, smoking cessation (if applicable) exercise and diet

· identify tools which can help patients determine if their respiratory illness is well controlled (Asthma and COPD) how to monitor control and steps to take if control deteriorates

· explain the complications that may develop due to poor control

· Describe pulmonary rehabilitation and when it is used

The course is laid out in six lessons followed by case-based scenarios.

Lesson 1: Biological Medicines – an Introduction

• Understand why biological medicines are important for you and your patient
• Outline the history of the development of biological medicines
• Understand the key differences between small molecule medicines and biological medicines

Lesson 2: Development of Biological Medicines

• Understand that the living organisms used to produce a biological medicine are naturally variable
• Understand how the product is defined by the manufacturing process for biological medicines
• Outline the scientific principles used to ensure that quality, safety and efficacy is consistently maintained
• Discuss the concept of immunogenicity and its importance

Lesson 3: Biosimilars

• Define a biosimilar
• Outline key differences between biosimilar and novel biological medicine regulatory pathways
• Understand how scientific principles used to ensure batch to batch similarity for the reference medicine are used to confirm biosimilarity
• Potential advantages biosimilars bring for the patient

Lesson 4: Interchangeability

• Define interchangeability, switching and automatic substitution
• Outline current regulations and legislation in Ireland
• Knowledge of recommendations relating to switching in the Irish health service
• Knowledge of the management of biological medicines on the High Tech Hub

Lesson 5: Pharmacovigilance

• Understand that the safety considerations for a biosimilar and its reference medicine are the same
• Understand all newly approved biological medicines are “black triangle”
• Understand that traceability is essential for pharmacovigilance of biological medicines

Lesson 6: Education

• On successful completion of this section, you will be able to discuss the importance of education and the role of pharmacists

Lesson 7: Case-based Scenarios

Four learning outcomes have been identified for this programme.  At the end of this programme you will:

• be able to describe what is meant by brief intervention and its role in pharmacy harm reduction services (such as Opioid treatment provision or needle and syringe programme (NSP);

• be able to identify elements required for delivery of a safe, quality pharmacy NSP;

• have the necessary knowledge and skills to support the development of policies and procedures required for implementation of a NSP;

• be able to identify actions to enhance the delivery of a NSP in the pharmacy.

At the end of this programme you will be able to:

• define harm reduction and its role in treating people who use drugs;

• describe the role of pharmacy in implementing harm reduction services;

• identify the legal requirements and practice guidance from the PSI relevant to opioid substitution treatment (OST) that will help you practice legally;

• describe the pharmacology of OST;

• describe the elements of an OST programme to ensure safe and rational supply of opioid agonist medication;

• identify actions to enhance the provision of harm reduction services in the pharmacy.

By completing this training, you will be able to:

• Describe the WHO’s Patient Safety Challenge, Medication without Harm.
• Assess the burden of harm associated with each of the 3 contributors to medication related harm (transitions of care, high risk situations and polypharmacy).
• Evaluate the roles of various healthcare professionals in medication use.
• Apply the concepts of the HSE Know, Check, Ask campaign and person-centred care to your practice.

The aim of this training is to enable pharmacists to:

• Diagnose and treat a severe angina attack
• Refresh their knowledge on the properties and usage of glyceryl trinitrate
• Supply and administer glyceryl trinitrate in emergency situations in line with S.I. No. 449/2015
• Identify exclusion criteria and precautions associated with glyceryl trinitrate use
• Manage possible side effects or adverse events resulting from administration of glyceryl trinitrate
• Store glyceryl trinitrate in line with the SmPC
  • Make appropriate records following supply and administration of glyceryl trinitrate in an emergency

The programme contains three modules of learning content;

• Residents and settings
• Medicines Management
• Operation’s and Inter-professional Collaboration

With a fourth module containing practice scenarios to allow pharmacists to consider their learning in a practical way.

This will include:

• Sharing the background as to how the process has evolved
• The 2024/25 ePortfolio Review Standards and how to self-assess against them
• The key timelines for the review
• An introduction to the ePortfolio Review training support resources
• Opportunity to ask any questions on the process

Note: Whilst this event is geared towards pharmacists that have been selected for this year’s ePortfolio Review, any pharmacists that are interested in learning more about the ePortfolio Review process are welcome to participate.

This will include:

• Sharing the background as to how the process has evolved
• The 2024/25 ePortfolio Review Standards and how to self-assess against them
• The key timelines for the review
• An introduction to the ePortfolio Review training support resources
• Opportunity to ask any questions on the process

Note: Whilst this event is geared towards pharmacists that have been selected for this year’s ePortfolio Review, any pharmacists that are interested in learning more about the ePortfolio Review process are welcome to participate.

This event will give an overview of: 

• The background to the Institute of Pharmacy
• The CPD system for Irish pharmacists
• The quality assurance system for Irish pharmacists 
• A practical demonstration of how to use the IIOP ePortfolio
• A practical demonstration of how to access the IIOP online courses

This event will include: 

• What is reflective practice and how does it link to my CPD?
• The benefits of reflective practice
• Reflective Writing samples
• Group discussion
• An opportunity to ask any questions you might ha

This event will give an overview of: 

• The background to the Institute of Pharmacy
• The CPD system for Irish pharmacists
• The quality assurance system for Irish pharmacists 
• A practical demonstration of how to use the IIOP ePortfolio
• A practical demonstration of how to access the IIOP online courses

This event will give an overview of: 

• The background to the Institute of Pharmacy
• The CPD system for Irish pharmacists
• The quality assurance system for Irish pharmacists 
• A practical demonstration of how to use the IIOP ePortfolio
• A practical demonstration of how to access the IIOP online courses