Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
A safeguarding worry at the counter
An older customer seemed confused, and the man collecting for her was asking about her medicines and her money. A scenario about noticing, recording and passing on a worry.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Safeguarding, Communication, Raising Concerns
Read more: A safeguarding worry at the counter
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioDeveloping (Level 3)
'Is it safe to take these together?' A technician's scope
A patient asked the technician whether a new medicine was safe with his others. A scenario about scope, confidence and knowing when to hand over.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Working Within Competence, Communication, Patient Safety
Read more: 'Is it safe to take these together?' A technician's scope
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
Asked to do a task you have not been trained for
Three weeks into a new job, a counter assistant was left to handle medicine sales on her own. A scenario about knowing your limits and saying so.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Working Within Competence, Delegation and Supervision, Raising Concerns
Read more: Asked to do a task you have not been trained for
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioDeveloping (Level 3)
Checking an item you also dispensed: accuracy checks under pressure
A discharge was waiting and the team was short. An accuracy checking technician dispensed an item and then checked it herself. A scenario about independent checks and saying no.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Hospital pharmacy
- Topics
- Dispensing, Working Within Competence, Patient Safety
Read more: Checking an item you also dispensed: accuracy checks under pressure
OTC spotlightFoundation (Level 2)
OTC spotlight: painkillers containing codeine
Three days only, a pack size limit and an addiction warning on the box. What counter staff need to know and when to refer.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Patient Safety, Pharmacy Legislation
Read more: OTC spotlight: painkillers containing codeine
OTC spotlightFoundation (Level 2)
Emergency contraception: the counter assistant's role
You do not supply it, but you are the first person the customer speaks to. Privacy, speed, no judgement and a smooth handover to the pharmacist.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Communication, Confidentiality, Medicines Management
Read more: Emergency contraception: the counter assistant's role
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioDeveloping (Level 3)
Expired stock on the shelf: when date checking slips
Date checking was missed for two months during a staff shortage, and an out of date pack was dispensed. A scenario about stock control as a patient safety task.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Governance, Patient Safety
Read more: Expired stock on the shelf: when date checking slips
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
Two patients, one surname: handing out to the wrong person
A bag went home with the wrong Mr Khan. A scenario about identity checks at the handout point, and why a name is never enough.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Patient Safety, Confidentiality, Communication
Read more: Two patients, one surname: handing out to the wrong person
Safety alert briefingDeveloping (Level 3)
How a medicines recall reaches your dispensary, and what you do next
Recall classes, timescales, quarantine and records. A standing guide for technicians and dispensary staff.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Any
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Patient Safety, Governance
Read more: How a medicines recall reaches your dispensary, and what you do next
OTC spotlightFoundation (Level 2)
OTC spotlight: ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories
Who should not buy ibuprofen without speaking to the pharmacist: stomach, kidney, heart and asthma conditions, pregnancy after 20 weeks, and blood thinners.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Patient Safety
Read more: OTC spotlight: ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
Looking up a neighbour's record: confidentiality when you mean well
A dispensing assistant opened a neighbour's medication record because she was worried about him. A scenario about why good intentions are not a reason to look.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Confidentiality, Data Protection, Professional Conduct
Read more: Looking up a neighbour's record: confidentiality when you mean well
Safety alert briefingDeveloping (Level 3)
Opioid patches: what to tell patients about safe use and disposal
A used patch still holds enough medicine to harm a child. Heat, accidental transfer and disposal are the three things every handout conversation should cover.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Any
- Topics
- Patient Safety, Controlled Drugs, Communication
Read more: Opioid patches: what to tell patients about safe use and disposal
OTC spotlightFoundation (Level 2)
OTC spotlight: paracetamol
The most familiar medicine on the counter, and one of the easiest to take too much of. Pack sizes, the daily maximum and hidden paracetamol in other products.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Patient Safety, Pharmacy Legislation
Read more: OTC spotlight: paracetamol
OTC spotlightFoundation (Level 2)
OTC spotlight: pseudoephedrine decongestants at the counter
Sales limits, who should not take it, and the rare but serious symptoms every counter assistant should know about.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Medicines Management, Patient Safety, Pharmacy Legislation
Read more: OTC spotlight: pseudoephedrine decongestants at the counter
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
The friend who wants an early repeat
A friend asked for his medicine a fortnight early, and the assistant put it through as a favour. A scenario about boundaries and why the rules are the same for everyone.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Professional Boundaries, Honesty and Integrity, Pharmacy Legislation
Read more: The friend who wants an early repeat
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
The near miss nobody logged
A dispenser spotted a wrong strength at the bagging stage, swapped it and said nothing. A scenario about why near misses are recorded, not hidden.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Patient Safety, Dispensing, Reflective Practice
Read more: The near miss nobody logged
Safety alert briefingDeveloping (Level 3)
Valproate: what the dispensing team checks before handout
Original packs only, a warning card in every supply, and a pharmacist conversation every time. The dispensing team's part in the valproate safety measures.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Any
- Topics
- Patient Safety, Medicines Management, Pharmacy Legislation
Read more: Valproate: what the dispensing team checks before handout
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioFoundation (Level 2)
Venting online after a hard shift: professionalism on social media
Nobody was named, but the customer recognised herself. A scenario about what happens when a bad day at work ends up online.
- Published
- 17 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Professional Conduct, Confidentiality, Communication
Read more: Venting online after a hard shift: professionalism on social media
Practice caseIllustrative scenarioDeveloping (Level 3)
'Just this once': when the pharmacist steps out
The Responsible Pharmacist left for an hour and the team kept going as normal. A scenario about what changes when the pharmacist is absent and what does not.
- Published
- 18 September 2026
- Written for
- Pharmacy Technician
- Practice area
- Community pharmacy
- Topics
- Pharmacy Legislation, Delegation and Supervision, Working Within Competence
Read more: 'Just this once': when the pharmacist steps out