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We’re pleased to announce that we’ll be holding a symposium at Pharmacology 2025! 

 

The symposium, “Delivering novel prescribing education solutions via the BPS Assessment platform” will bring together leading voices in prescribing education.

 

 If you’re coming to Pharmacology 2025 then make sure you catch us on Thursday 18th December 2025 9:00am-10:45am in the main auditorium. If you haven’t already secured your ticket, registration is available here

 

What we will be talking about

The BPS Assessment platform is a bespoke and robust learning environment capable of hosting the development and delivery of eLearning materials and assessments in the fields of prescribing and pharmacology. 

 

Prescribing and supervising the use of medicines is critical to delivering high quality healthcare, in both hospitals and primary care. Given these complexities, it is perhaps not surprising that poor prescribing is common, with around 5 to 10% of UK prescriptions containing an error. In these circumstances it is important that undergraduate and continuing education provides the training to ensure that all prescribers meet minimum standards of prescribing competency. 

 

With that challenge in mind, the BPS built a bespoke platform to support the hosting of the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) on behalf of the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) and UK Medical Schools. 

 

In recent years, it has been developed to provide additional tools for users to support newer approaches to education. This symposium will describe some of those new developments and how the platform is being used to service the needs of prescribing training for postgraduate doctors, undergraduate medical students and pharmacists.

 

We hope that the presentations will inspire other BPS members and attendees to see how the platform could be deployed in their own teaching and assessment.

 

Our speakers

Chair: Professor Simon Maxwell

 

Talk 1: The BPSA platform: new innovations on an established platform – Mr Peter Wright, BPS Assessment

 

Talk 2: Supporting prescribing training for NHS foundation doctors in Ayrshire and Arran Health Board – Sarah McDonald, NHS Ayrshire and Arran; Frances Bendall, NHS Ayrshire and Arran

 

Talk 3: Supporting prescribing training for undergraduate medical students at the University of Manchester – Dr Kurt Wilson and Dr Hiten Mitha, University of Manchester

 

Talk 4: Prescribing skills and the PSA: MPharm students’ perspectives – Clare Murray, Queen’s University, Belfast.

 

Meet with our team

Want to request some dedicated time with our team while you’re at Pharmacology 2025? Book a meeting with us here to ensure you get a one to one session so we can answer your questions and discuss anything you’d like to know on the day.

 

Med Safety Week runs from 3rd to 9th November 2025, marking its tenth anniversary as a global campaign to raise awareness about reporting suspected adverse drug reactions. This year’s theme “we all have the power to make medicines safer” is particularly relevant for medical students, trainees, educators and practising prescribers.

 

Here’s a statistic that might come as a surprise, less than 10% of adverse drug reactions are ever reported. That’s a significant gap when you consider that pharmacovigilance systems rely heavily on these reports to identify safety signals, update prescribing guidance and protect patients.

 

Every unreported adverse drug reaction (ADR) represents a missed opportunity to build a fuller picture of how medicines perform in real-world settings, across diverse patient populations and over extended periods.

 

Using Med Safety Week as a teaching opportunity

Med Safety Week provides a timely reminder to embed pharmacovigilance into your curriculum in a way that feels relevant.

 

When presenting clinical scenarios, you could include opportunities for students to identify potential adverse reactions and discuss whether they’d warrant a report. The MHRA publishes case studies showing how Yellow Card reports have led to regulatory action which can be used as teaching materials to demonstrate the impact of pharmacovigilance in the real world.

 

Ask students to consider questions such as: Have they witnessed a suspected ADR during clinical placements? Was it reported? If not, why not? What were the barriers? This kind of reflective discussion helps identify the practical challenges that lead to underreporting.

 

For students preparing for their prescribing exams The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) includes questions on adverse drug reactions and understanding when and how to report suspected side effects is a core competency expected of newly qualified prescribers.

 

Resources for Med Safety Week

The MHRA and Uppsala Monitoring Centre provide free campaign materials that can be used in lectures, shared on social media or displayed in teaching spaces who-umc.org/medsafetyweek

 

BPSA’s own MHRA Yellow Card scheme assessment is a free to use resource that has been developed in partnership with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). It provides structured learning across two modules, covering the role of the MHRA and scenario-based case studies on reporting adverse incidents. It’s available through our portal and takes approximately one hour to complete portal.bpsassessment.com/product/yellow-card-scheme

 

Useful links

• MHRA Yellow Card scheme: yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk
• Medical Safety Week campaign materials: who-umc.org/medsafetyweek
• MHRA Yellow Card scheme assessment: portal.bpsassessment.com/product/yellow-card-scheme
• BPS Assessment resources: portal.bpsassessment.com

We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand new electronic prescribing system (EPS) simulator designed for students; the EPS Simulator.

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BPS Assessment is proud to announce the successful deployment of a new Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with Flinders University in Australia. This integration, powered by OKTA, allows students to access our suite of prescribing education resources using the same authentication system used to access key university systems, including their Learning Management System (LMS).

 

This project was made possible by Flinders University, who funded the development in support of a smoother, more connected learning experience for their students. By using their existing university credentials, Flinders students can now explore prescribing resources, including exams, practice papers and eLearning modules, without needing to manage separate usernames or passwords.

 

Peter Wright, Head of Commercial Operations at BPS Assessment, said;

 

“We’re delighted to be working with Flinders University to improve our platform’s user experience in this way. The use of OKTA in this integration provides a robust and secure solution which reduces the admin burden for the schools and their students.”

 

This collaboration reflects BPS Assessment’s commitment to delivering flexible, user-friendly digital solutions that support safer prescribing. The integration helps embed prescribing resources into school curricula with minimal disruption, supporting students as they build confidence in safe and effective prescribing.

 

For institutions interested in exploring SSO integration or embedding prescribing education into their training programmes, please contact team@bpsassessment.com.

In May, the team travelled to the scenic city of Prato, Tuscany, for the Tenth International Clinical Skills Conference, a renowned global event focused on advancing healthcare education. It was a privilege to join forces with our partners at the University of Manchester to showcase the latest developments in prescribing education and to engage with educators from around the world.

 

Introducing the ePrescribing Simulator

At the heart of our presentations was the launch of the new ePrescribing Simulator. This innovative tool has been designed to replicate the functionality of a hospital or primary care electronic prescribing system, allowing educators to present authentic, complex prescribing scenarios in a safe and accessible online environment.

 

The ePrescribing Simulator makes it possible to:

 

• Deliver realistic case-based learning at scale,
• Mirror the pressures and decision-making processes of clinical practice while maintaining a formative learning environment
• Provide immediate feedback on student performance
• Support curricula focused on medication safety and prescribing competence.

 

Importantly, it’s built to be flexible and user-friendly, meaning institutions can integrate it seamlessly into existing courses, whether for undergraduate medical students, pharmacy trainees, or postgraduate learners.

 

A Shared Commitment to Innovation

The response at the conference was overwhelmingly positive. Educators and clinical leads expressed a growing need for tools that can better prepare students for the digital systems they will encounter in practice. Our partnership with the University of Manchester has helped shape this simulator to meet that need, informed by clinical reality.

 

This shared development reflects a broader commitment for BPS Assessment to support institutions in delivering high-quality, practical prescribing education that meets today’s healthcare demands.

 

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to work with more universities and teaching hospitals in the months ahead. The simulator is delivered through the BPS Assessment platform, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with your existing account and workflows. 

 

Whether you’re aiming to enhance your current prescribing curriculum or introduce new tools to build digital prescribing skills and promote safe practice, we’d love to start a conversation.

 

To find out more about the ePrescribing Simulator or to arrange a demo for your institution, please get in touch. 

Teaching prescribing can be tricky, with many professors and academics struggling for time and resources. But with BPS Assessment’s suite of prescribing tools, institutions have access to a collection of resources developed specifically to improve prescribing and patient safety. Let’s delve into the range of products offered and how they cater to your needs.

 

1. Prescribing Skills Assessment

The Prescribing Skills Assessment, not to be confused with the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a cornerstone for evaluating prescribing proficiency among medical and healthcare students. Its assessment framework taken from the UK PSA not only measures theoretical knowledge but also assesses practical prescribing skills in simulated clinical scenarios. By utilising this formative exam, institutions can pinpoint areas of strength and weakness, enabling targeted interventions and ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for safe and effective prescribing in clinical practice.

 

2. eLearning Modules

Our eLearning modules serve as dynamic supplements to traditional teaching methods, catering to diverse learning styles. These interactive modules cover a wide range of prescribing topics, from pharmacology principles to drug interactions, allowing students to deepen their understanding at their own pace. With engaging content and real-world case studies, these modules enhance theoretical knowledge and practical skills, providing a comprehensive learning experience for medical, pharmacy and nursing programs alike.

 

3. CPT Elective

The Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) elective offers a unique opportunity for medical students to immerse themselves in the world of prescribing. Through hands-on clinical scenarios and expert guidance, students gain invaluable experience in making evidence-based prescribing decisions, understanding drug mechanisms, and managing patient medications effectively. As part of this elective course students will first test their existing knowledge with our pre-course knowledge check, then work through a series of eLearning sessions to strengthen their skills and understanding. Lastly, they will complete a final assessment to evaluate their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills but also their preparedness for complex prescribing in diverse healthcare settings. 

 

4. Platform Licensing Offering

For institutions seeking a comprehensive prescribing solution, we offer platform licensing. This customisable option provides access to a suite of prescribing tools, including the prescribing platform, question authoring console with question templates and drug bank, each of which can be tailored to meet specific institutional needs. With flexible licensing arrangements and ongoing support, institutions can integrate these tools seamlessly into their curriculum, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to teaching prescribing.

 

By leveraging these prescribing tools, institutions can create a dynamic learning environment that fosters competence and confidence among aspiring healthcare professionals. Embrace innovation, empower learners, and elevate the standard of prescribing education with BPS Assessment. Take a look at our products and services page or get in touch with the team to arrange a platform demo.  

Assessments play a crucial role in evaluating a student’s knowledge and skills, especially in the medical field. At BPS Assessment, we understand the importance of creating high-quality assessments, which accurately assess student’s ability to prescribe medication safety and effectively. In this blog, we’ll take you behind the scenes, giving you a glimpse of how our team of experts crafts our assessments so that you have the best prescribing resources available for your students. 

 

Utilising Drug Bank Resources

 

The first step in crafting our assessments is to tap into the valuable resources available on the BPS Assessment platform, the Drug Bank. This comprehensive database provides our assessment writers with a wealth of information on medications, drug interactions, dosages, and more. Using the Drug Bank, our UK prescribing experts can create questions that accurately reflect the real-world scenarios you may encounter in your clinical practice.

Adhering to the PSA Blueprint

 

Each assessment question is created to adhere to the UK Prescribing Safety Assessment blueprint. This blueprint outlines the specific competencies and knowledge areas that are expected of foundation doctors and assesses 8 key areas. 

 

Our team ensures that every question we create closely adheres to these guidelines, covering a wide range of topics related to safe and effective prescribing; from prescription writing to drug monitoring and calculations. Each area is represented by an individual question item style in our assessments, highlighted in the graphic below: 

 

This alignment guarantees that your trainees are being assessed on the skills and knowledge that matter most in their future healthcare practice.

 

Peer Review for Quality Assurance

 

Quality is of paramount importance in assessment creation, which is why every question undergoes a rigorous peer review process. After our experts draft a question, it is carefully reviewed by a panel of experienced peers. This panel includes seasoned healthcare professionals and educators who possess a deep understanding of the PSA and its objectives. They assess each question for accuracy, relevance, and adherence to the PSA blueprint.

 

Author Revision and Finalisation

 

Based on the feedback from the peer review panel, the original author of the question revises it as necessary. This may involve refining the wording, adjusting the mark scheme, and enhancing the explanation of answers to ensure clarity. The goal is to create questions that are fair, challenging, and reflective of real-world prescribing scenarios.

 

By the time a question is finalised, it has undergone multiple iterations and revisions, guaranteeing that it meets the highest standards of quality and aligns perfectly with the PSA’s objectives.                           

 

Behind every successful assessment at BPS Assessment is a well-defined process that combines the expertise of UK prescribing experts, adherence to the PSA blueprint, and rigorous peer review. We take pride in our commitment to providing you with assessments that accurately assess prescribing skills, ensuring that candidates are well-prepared for the challenges of real-world clinical practice.

 

Utilising BPS Assessment resources can empower institutions to prepare their students, guiding them to reach a level of competence in prescribing medication that ensures both safety and effectiveness, thereby significantly reducing the risk of patient incidents arising from medication errors.

The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) stands as a pivotal milestone in the journey of medical professionals, serving as a crucial evaluation of their competence in prescribing medications safely and effectively. Since 2017, it has been a mandatory part of the medical education curriculum, ensuring that junior doctors are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to make informed and safe prescription decisions. 

 

Recent developments have placed the PSA under a spotlight, as the findings of the independent Dacre Review have shed new light on its structure, content, and overall impact. In this blog, we delve deeper into the Prescribing Safety Assessment, exploring its significance in medical education, and examine the key takeaways from the Dacre Review. 

 

Unearthing insights: Why the Dacre Review was commissioned

 

In 2022, the British Pharmacological Society and the Medical Schools Council jointly commissioned an extensive review of the PSA. The goal was to evaluate the exam’s effectiveness and determine its future direction. The review was overseen by top representatives from across the NHS and medical education programme in the UK, who under the chair of Professor Dame Jane Dacre, have proposed a set of recommendations for the exam. 

 

Headlines from the Review

 

The findings from the review can be boiled down to some key themes, we’ve summarised them below; 

 

Support for the Prescribing Safety Assessment 

 

The consensus among stakeholders and echoed by the oversight group is that there is widespread support for the PSA. Many understand that prescribing has changed and will continue to change with the introduction of new medications coupled with prescribing in an ageing population, giving rise to complex challenges which junior doctors need to be prepared for. This is where the exam not only presents an opportunity for students to assess their prescribing skills but also build their knowledge and confidence in prescribing before advancing in their careers. 

 

Impact of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The review not only focused on the exam’s effectiveness, but also considered its impact on both students and patients. The data suggests that the PSA is a robust tool for assessing prescribing competency and that since its implementation there has been little difference in the performance between medical schools and regions across the UK, an indication of its reliability.

 

Aside from the direct impact on students, there is evidence to suggest that the PSA also has had a positive effect on the safety of patients. Since the PSA was made mandatory in 2017, the percentage of medication-related patient safety incidents has reduced year-on-year.  

 

The Future of the Prescribing Safety Assessment  

 

The recommendations put forth by the Dacre Review mark a pivotal turning point for the future of the PSA. Among others, it highlights the need for sustained and equitable funding to ensure the PSA’s accessibility and continued improvement. As well as, better regulation and a more robust governance structure to enhance transparency and accountability, bringing together key stakeholders to guide its development and delivery. 

 

These recommendations collectively represent a promising vision for the PSA’s future, one that prioritises fairness, quality, and sustainability in assessing the prescribing competence of future healthcare professionals. The PSA is poised to evolve into a more effective and reliable assessment tool, forming an integral part of the medical education curriculum within the UK that is better equipped to prepare healthcare practitioners for the challenges of modern medicine.