C+D Highlights Our Impact on the DPP Crisis

C+D Highlights Our Impact on the DPP Crisis

C+D Highlights Our Impact on the DPP Crisis

C+D Highlights Our Impact on the DPP Crisis

DPP Connect Featured in Chemist and Druggist Magazine, Highlighting Solutions to the DPP Shortage Crisis

We are pleased to share that DPP Connect has been featured in a recent Chemist and Druggist (C+D) article examining the growing challenges pharmacists face in finding Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs) to complete their Independent Prescribing (IP) qualifications.

Featured in a Leading Pharmacy Publication

C+D has been informing, supporting and championing community pharmacy since 1859, making it one of the longest-established publications in the pharmacy sector. With an average readership of 114,100 unique users each month, this feature brings attention to the critical DPP shortage issue and our approach to addressing it among pharmacy professionals across the UK.

The article, titled "'Very desperate': Boom in pay-for-DPP services as GP surgery 'doors close'", published on 14 April 2025, highlights the escalating demand for DPP services across the UK. As NHS England's 2025/26 deadline approaches for all pharmacy trainees to qualify as Independent Prescribers, the shortage of available DPPs has become increasingly acute.

Our team members Ruhina Kassam, Director of Professional Standards and Quality Assurance, and Mahmud Yusupov, Strategic Healthcare Workforce Development Lead, provided insights into the challenges pharmacists are facing and how DPP Connect is addressing these needs.

Rapid Growth in Response to Demand

The C+D feature reveals the significant growth in our services, noting that in just the first two months of 2025, we had already matched 82 students with suitable DPPs—almost triple the total number booked throughout 2024. This surge reflects the increasing urgency felt by pharmacists seeking to complete their prescribing qualifications.

The article also mentions that queries to our dedicated DPP hotline have nearly doubled from 145 in July to 236 in January, demonstrating the growing awareness of our service and the escalating need across the sector.

Community Pharmacists Particularly Affected

As highlighted in the article, community pharmacists are disproportionately impacted by the DPP shortage. While primary care and hospital pharmacists often have direct access to potential DPPs within their workplace, community pharmacists frequently struggle to find appropriate mentors, with many reporting that they've "tried other methods" and "messaged everyone in their local GP surgeries" without success.

Our Unique Approach to DPP Services

The C+D feature emphasises our comprehensive approach to DPP services, which includes:

  • Matching pharmacists with DPPs from various specialties and geographical locations

  • Providing approximately £1,000 worth of pre-placement training

  • Preparing pharmacists with system training, clinical training, and consultation skills

Ruhina explained to C+D how our model benefits both students and DPPs: "We've created this model of training the pharmacist before they go into the practices... When they go into that practice, that DPP doesn't feel like they're wasting their time."

This preparation creates a more productive experience for everyone involved and has "really made the DPPs want to help support those students, rather than thinking 'Oh no, it's just going to be like hassle and hard work'."

Quality-Focused Approach

The article also highlighted our commitment to quality, with Ruhina noting that we are "fussy with our DPPs, because we want our students to have the best learning experience they can have."

Our mission remains focused on making "a transformative impact about helping to support with this DPP shortage and make sure that we've got good quality DPPs out there."

Looking Ahead

As the industry continues to grapple with the DPP shortage, DPP Connect remains committed to expanding our network of quality-assured DPPs and supporting pharmacists through their Independent Prescribing journey. Through our structured approach, we aim to address the growing demand while maintaining the highest standards of training and mentorship.

Join Our Mission

We invite healthcare professionals seeking DPPs to explore our platform and experience our approach firsthand. And if you are an experienced prescriber and want to contribute to developing the next generation of independent prescribers, register your interest to become a DPP.

Together, we're working to create a more accessible pathway to prescribing qualifications and enhancing patient care across the UK.

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