By Janet Gilbertson, Rhian Carta, Jane Hardwidge, Eugene Catangui, Charlotte Stranks and Charlotte Thomas
At Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, we are committed to enhancing pharmacy education by providing hands-on, undergraduate placements that bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world practice. These initiatives equip pharmacy students with the practical skills and experience needed to thrive in a collaborative healthcare environment.
A collaborative approach to education
Recognising the value of interprofessional learning, we collaborated with our Clinical Education Department to create a pharmacy-specific placement model. This partnership leverages their expertise in managing placements across healthcare disciplines, ensuring that our students experience multidisciplinary teamwork essential for success in the NHS.
A stakeholder steering group, including representatives from pharmacy, clinical education, Cardiff and Swansea universities, and Health Education Improvement Wales, has streamlined placement delivery and facilitated ongoing collaboration. This collective effort ensures the highest standards and flexibility, adapting to the evolving needs of pharmacy education.
Delivering hands-on learning at scale
During the 2023/2024 academic year, we successfully delivered over 300 placement weeks across four acute care sites for pharmacy students from Cardiff and Swansea universities. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: 98% of students reported feeling better prepared for their future roles as pharmacists, and 87% expressed a desire to return and work with us. These results reflect the dedication of our teams in creating a supportive, enriching learning environment.
Valuable lessons learned
Through our placement programme, we’ve gained important insights. Key lessons include the importance of staff well-being, especially during high-demand periods such as the holidays. Regular breaks for staff are essential to maintaining a positive, productive learning environment for students. Additionally, engagement events have helped foster a sense of community and enhanced collaboration among staff, students, and healthcare professionals. Continuous feedback from all involved has been crucial in refining the programme and ensuring it meets the needs of future pharmacists.
Looking to the future
We plan to expand our undergraduate placement programme, increasing the number of placement weeks to 340 and incorporating primary care placements. This expansion will offer students more diverse learning opportunities and better prepare them for the challenges of modern pharmacy practice. Our efforts were recently shared at the RPS Wales conference, contributing to ongoing discussions about the future of pharmacy education.
Conclusion
At Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, we are proud of the impact our undergraduate pharmacy placements have made. Through collaboration, continuous improvement, and a commitment to hands-on learning, we are shaping the future of pharmacy education and preparing the next generation of pharmacists to excel in their careers and contribute meaningfully to healthcare.
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Roles of authors (Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board)
Eugene Catangui and Charlotte Stranks – Clinical Lead and Teacher Practitioner Pharmacists
Rhian Carta – Head of Pharmacy: Prince Charles Hospital, Ysbyty Cwm Cynon and Ysbyty Cwm Rhondda and Workforce Development Lead
Jane Hardwidge – Principal Pharmacist Workforce Development
Janet Gilbertson – Assistant Director Clinical Education
Charlotte Thomas - Senior Nurse for Interprofessional and Simulation Education and Learning