(Last updated 22/03/06)

These educational packages aim to provide an opportunity to learn more about (a) how prescribing is measured and evaluated within the NHS in England, (b) the electronic information systems provided by the Prescription Pricing Division and (c) the reimbursement and remuneration rules for provision of pharmaceutical services in England.

These packages have been primarily developed for undergraduate pharmacy and medical students. However, other groups will also find some of the packages useful to meet their learning needs: for example nurses, postgraduates studying for a diploma/MSc in therapeutics or managing prescribing, pre-registration pharmacy students, GP registrars and dispensing technicians.

At the start of each package you will find learning objectives. These will help you to decide if the package will meet your needs and they also give an indication of the level of the package. Some packages are at an introductory level whilst others are more advanced. The menu on the left of the screen shows what packages are available - just click on a title to open the package.

The packages are open-learning and therefore they are interactive. You will be asked questions to which we provide answers. To get the most out of the packages you should attempt the questions before looking at the answers. You may want to discuss the issues raised with your colleagues or tutor/lecturer. You will also find activities where you can apply and test your knowledge for example if you dispense prescriptions, how competent are you at endorsing?

We have used the following symbols to indicate different types of activities:

	Questions you should attempt to answer.
	You will find the answers where you see this symbol.
	Discussion points to encourage you to think about issues and form your own opinions. We do not provide complete answers to these but you will find suggestions in the text.
	Reading i.e. where to find further information. This might refer you elsewhere in our website, to other websites or to printed materials e.g. journals.

Throughout the text there are links that will take you to other parts of the same package, to other parts of our website or to different websites.

We welcome your feedback on the packages. Please let us know whether you find them useful and if you have any suggestions for improvements.

E-mail comments to: helen.kendall@ppa.nhs.uk

These educational packages are copyright to the NHS Business Services Authority Prescription Pricing Division. We put no restrictions on students copying the material for their own individual needs. University lecturers may also make multiple copies for use in teaching undergraduate or postgraduate students. Other people who wish to reproduce any of the material should contact us (use the e-mail address above).

We have tried to ensure that the material in the packages is factually correct at the time the package was produced. We aim to update the packages regularly to keep pace with changes in practice and the date of the last update is shown at the top of each package. The NHS Business Services Authority Prescription Pricing Division is not responsible for any consequences of applying the information in the packages in practice. You should refer to original sources to confirm information is still current such as the Drug Tariff to confirm information on prices and endorsing. The views and opinions expressed in the packages are those of the authors and not of the NHS Business Services Authority Prescription Pricing Division.