d="sp0020">This article aims to discuss the need to enhance pharmacy professionals’ (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) consultation skills in England and describe the development of a national consultation skills training program to meet these needs.
d="sp0025">The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education led on a project to create a consultation skills training program for all pharmacy professionals across England. The program embedded a set of consultation skills practice standards developed by a large task and finish group consisting of pharmacy professionals of varying roles from the National Health Service, private pharmacy organizations and academia.
d="sp0030">A Consultation Skills for Pharmacy Practice (CSfPP) training program, consisting of a distance learning workbook and website, was produced and disseminated to all registered pharmacy professionals in England, in March 2014.
d="sp0035">The first consultation skills training program of its kind was created that aimed to address the growing need to improve the consultations skills of pharmacy professionals in England. Future work will examine the reception of the CSfPP among pharmacy professionals and the impact it has on their practice.