Registrar completes the self-reviewThe registrar identifies 50 consecutive prescription items and completes their own classification and reflection first.
Practice-approved review of real prescription items
Pharmacist review for the ST3 Prescribing Assessment
After the registrar completes their own 50-item self-review, a pharmacist reviews at least 20 real items on the trainer’s behalf, compares the findings and prepares a clear, de-identified discussion pack.
The registrar still completes their self-review and reflection. The pharmacist and GP supervisor contribute to the tutorial; the GP supervisor completes the official assessment form.
RCGP guidance expressly permits pharmacist involvement.A pharmacist can review the sample on the trainer’s behalf. Both the pharmacist and supervisor should contribute to the discussion, and the supervisor completes the assessment form.
Read the official FAQ
How the review works
One governed route from permission to discussion
Nothing begins with record access. It begins with the practice confirming who is involved, why the review is being completed and how findings will be handled.
Practice approves the arrangementThe practice agrees the reviewer, purpose, minimum-access route, review period and urgent escalation contact.
Pharmacist reviews the agreed sampleAt least 20 random items - or all 50 for the enhanced service - are checked against the clinical record and current sources.
Supervisor receives the organised comparisonThe de-identified pack highlights agreement, missed findings, good prescribing, repeated patterns and practical discussion questions.
Transparent per-registrar pricing
Choose the depth of independent assurance
Both services include clinical review, a structured de-identified report and preparation for the joint pharmacist–supervisor discussion.
20+ item assurance review
£249 per registrarA practice-approved pharmacist reviews a random sample of at least 20 items from the registrar’s completed 50-item self-review. More items are reviewed if findings do not align.
- Independent item classifications
- Agreement, discrepancy and pattern analysis
- De-identified supervisor discussion pack
Enhanced 50-item review
£395 per registrarThe pharmacist independently reviews the full set after the registrar’s own review, producing a deeper comparison of recurring strengths, risk and development priorities.
- Independent review of all 50 items
- Full pattern and discrepancy analysis
- Prioritised supervision and PDP actions
The de-identified review pack
Give the tutorial a clinically useful starting point
The report does not produce a pass mark. It makes the comparison visible: where the registrar and reviewer agreed, what either person missed, what was done well, and which patterns deserve further learning.
Prescribing strengths
What to keep doing
Specific examples of safe and effective decision-making
Development priorities
What to improve next
Repeated patterns translated into focused learning actions
Safety-critical findings
Never hidden by an average
Urgent concerns remain visible for timely review
Information governance and patient safety
Real records remain inside the practice-approved route
Payment reserves the service; it does not grant access to a clinical system. Work starts only after the governance arrangement is confirmed.
Practice permission firstThe practice approves the reviewer, purpose, scope, access route and escalation process before any real record is opened.
Named, minimum accessWhere direct access is permitted, it should be individual, time-limited and restricted to what the agreed review requires.
Review stays in the approved environmentNo patient-identifiable record is copied into the learning platform or sent through ordinary email.
Urgent findings have a routeThe practice agrees how a potential immediate safety concern is escalated to an accountable clinician.
Responsibilities stay clear
Open the official process
The pharmacist prepares the review. The supervisor retains the judgement.
This service does not replace the registrar’s reflection, the joint tutorial, the supervisor’s educational assessment or any required Trainee Portfolio entry.
Frequently asked questions
About the pharmacist review service
Can a pharmacist support the real prescription review?
Yes. RCGP FAQs state that a pharmacist can review the sample on the trainer’s behalf. The pharmacist and supervisor contribute to the discussion, and the GP supervisor completes the official assessment form.
How much does the pharmacist review cost?
The 20+ item assurance review is £249 per registrar. The enhanced independent review of all 50 items is £395 per registrar.
Does Medicine in Practice receive identifiable patient data?
No identifiable patient information should be uploaded to the learning platform or sent by email. Any real-item review remains inside a practice-approved environment and access starts only after governance is agreed.
Ready to arrange the review?
Choose 20+ items or the enhanced 50-item service
When you enquire, we confirm the registrar, practice approval and governance route before review work begins.