December 13, 2012 11.07 am This story is over 134 months old

First Lincoln School of Pharmacy established

New school: To cope with the demand for pharmaceutical expertise in the region, the University of Lincoln will open a new School of Pharmacy.

The University of Lincoln has officially established its new School of Pharmacy, which will begin teaching in 2013.

The pharmaceutical school will eventually be located in the soon-to-be-built science and innovation park off Green Lane, built alongside Lincolnshire Co-operative.

Once built, the pharmacy will be located in an 1930’s art deco building but after refurbishment will offer top end laboratories and clinical spaces.

The first intake for undergraduates in Pharmaceutical Sciences will be in September 2013, with a Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) in September 2014.

Head of the School of Pharmacy Dr Paul Grassby said: “The unique opportunity we have is to be able to develop the MPharm course based on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPC) new standards for education and training of pharmacists which is now driven by outcomes in terms of what the students can actually do – the application of knowledge when they graduate.

“Over the last 20 years clinical pharmacy, particularly in hospitals, has developed significantly, and pharmacy is now a recognised clinical vocation underpinned by good science.

“The big issues within the NHS are the ageing population, which is a particular concern in Lincolnshire, and long-term medical conditions – all of which need drug therapy. There is a huge social need for the pharmacy profession to take a more pro-active role in helping people manage their medicines, and ensure they are taking medicines that are the most effective and safe for them.”

He added: “There has been an historical shortage of pharmacists in Lincolnshire and as a lot of graduates tend to stay where they study, the creation of the School will address a long-term problem.

“There is also a need for the local pharmacy community to have a School with which they can develop a relationship with in terms of continuing education, teaching, research and service development.”

Lincolnshire Co-operatvie manages 47 of its own pharmacies across Lincolnshire.

Head of Co-op Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar said: “We’re looking forward to establishing projects that will see Lincolnshire Co-op supporting the students, such as offering placements in our pharmacies so they can see how the academic skills they’re learning will relate to the job in practice. The establishment of the School of Pharmacy will also provide our pharmacists with opportunities for professional development.”

Initially joining Dr Grassby in the School of Pharmacy team are Professor Ian Marshall, Dr Graham Lappin, Reader in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Nick Blagden, Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Dr Dritton Vllasaliu.