10. July 2026

Introductions

June 2026

Welcome to ScotPharm Training

At ScotPharm Training, our goal is simple: to support pharmacists in developing the clinical skills, confidence and competence needed to thrive in modern community pharmacy practice.

We are Kirsty Hamilton and Maxine McCabe, both independent prescribing pharmacists working in community pharmacy in Scotland. On a daily basis, we deliver NHS Pharmacy First Plus services—assessing patients, making clinical decisions and prescribing treatments for a wide range of common conditions. This frontline experience is at the heart of everything we do.

Why we started ScotPharm Training

Community pharmacy is changing rapidly. The expansion of services such as Pharmacy First Plus has transformed the role of the pharmacist from a mainly supply-focused role to a patient-facing clinical one.

Pharmacy First Plus enables independent prescribing pharmacists to assess, diagnose and prescribe for a wide range of clinical conditions within the pharmacy setting. As demand for these services continues to grow across Scotland, so too does the need for pharmacists to feel clinically confident and competent in delivering them.

We’ve seen first-hand how rewarding—but also how challenging—this shift can be.

Many pharmacists are:

• Stepping into prescribing roles for the first time
• Returning to clinical assessment skills after a period away
• Or wanting to expand their scope of practice but unsure where to start

That’s where ScotPharm Training comes in.

Our teaching background

Alongside our clinical roles, we are both actively involved in education and training. We have experience delivering clinical skills teaching to pharmacists at different stages of their careers—from those preparing for independent prescribing, to qualified prescribers looking to build confidence in consultation and examination skills.

Our teaching is shaped by real practice. We focus on practical, applicable skills that can be used immediately in your day-to-day work—whether that’s improving your consultation structure, recognising red flags, or building confidence in clinical decision-making.

We are passionate about creating a supportive, engaging learning environment where pharmacists feel comfortable developing their skills and asking questions.

Clinical governance and staying current

As prescribing becomes embedded in community pharmacy, maintaining clinical competence is essential for safe practice.

Independent prescribers are making complex, real-time decisions—often working autonomously. This brings a responsibility to ensure clinical knowledge, assessment skills and judgement remain up to date.

From a governance perspective, this means:

• Maintaining and refreshing clinical examination skills
• Engaging in peer review and discussion
• Reflecting on decisions and identifying learning needs

It’s not just about keeping knowledge up to date—it’s about reducing clinical risk, supporting safe prescribing, and ensuring pharmacy teams deliver high-quality, patient-centred care with confidence.

Building clinical confidence

One of the most common themes we hear from pharmacists is a lack of confidence in applying clinical knowledge in real consultations.

You might know the theory—but translating that into:

• Structured patient assessments
• Differential diagnoses
• Safe prescribing decisions

Can feel challenging without the opportunity to practise and receive feedback.

Our courses are designed to bridge that gap—helping you move from knowledge to confident clinical practice in a safe, supportive environment.

Supporting the future of prescribing

With the evolution of pharmacy education and training, independent prescribing is becoming embedded into the profession, with new pharmacists expected to qualify as prescribers as part of their training. 

For those already in practice, staying aligned with GPhC standards means continuing to build competence, reflect on practice, and ensure that prescribing remains safe, effective and within scope.

At ScotPharm Training, we aim to support pharmacists at every stage of that journey—whether you are preparing for prescribing, newly qualified, or an experienced prescriber looking to refine your skills.

Join us on the journey

We created ScotPharm Training to provide practical, relevant and engaging clinical skills training for pharmacists working in the real world.

We understand the pressures of community pharmacy—and we believe training should be practical, flexible, supportive and directly applicable to your practice.

We’re excited to be part of your professional development journey.