National UK standards for critical care highlight the need for clinical pharmacists to\npractice at an advanced level and above. The aim of this research paper was to describe the views of\nUK critical care pharmacists on the current provision of Advanced Level Practice (ALP) education\nand accreditation. It sought to identify whether there is a need for a national or regional training\nprogramme. A questionnaire was delivered electronically targeting UK critical care pharmacists.\nWhilst the response rate was low at 40% (166/411); the views expressed were representative of\nUK practitioners with the majority of responders meeting the national specifications for clinical\npharmacist staffing in critical care areas. The responses highlighted work-based learning as the\nmain resource for developing ALP and a lack of suitable training packages. The vast majority\nof pharmacists identified that a national or regional training programme was required for ALP.\nThe results also identified the main barriers to undertaking ALP accreditation were lack of time,\nuncertainty regarding the process and its professional benefits and a lack of education and training\nopportunities. In conclusion, the responses clearly indicated that, for the necessary progression of\ncritical care pharmacists to ALP, a national or regional training programme is required.
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