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Want to know more about what’s happening in pharmacy education and training? Why not join us and listen to our new PSD Scotland Pharmacy Podcasts. Each series of podcasts will explore different areas of pharmacy education and incorporate insights from guests who are involved or undertaking educational roles within their practice. The Podcasts are hosted by our pharmacy team and each episode will provide helpful tips and guidance to support you within your practice.
©Public Services Delivery Scotland 2026. You can copy or reproduce the information in these podcasts for use within NHS Scotland and for non-commercial educational purposes under creative commons CC BY-NC 4.0 Deed | Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International | Creative commons. Use of this resource for commercial purposes is permitted only with the written permission of PSD Scotland.
The PSD Scotland Pharmacy Podcast aims to provide you with developments and updates in pharmacy education as well as let you hear from various pharmacy teams members who are already contributing to education and training within their various roles in practice.
Episodes will appear here regularly.
Meet your Host - Elspeth Boxall
My name is Elspeth Boxall, and I’m a Senior Educator with the PSD Scotland Pharmacy Postgraduate team.
I’ve been a pharmacist for more than 20 years, working primarily in hospital pharmacy. I have always had a keen interest in education and joined the pharmacy postgraduate education team in 2015, combining this with my continuing hospital practice.
Alongside my full‑time pharmacy role, I’m also a mum to two teenage boys, so I truly understand the need for flexible, accessible learning that fits into real life. That’s why I’m proud to help produce our podcast series to offer a new and engaging way to access education that supports busy professionals across Scotland.
We really hope that you find these podcasts useful. We are always looking for feedback to help develop the content that people find most interesting so please do let us know what you think through our feedback forms.
Episodes
Aug 26, 2026
Aug 26, 2026
22 min
In this episode, host Elspeth Boxall is joined by Andrew Sturrock, Director of Pharmacy at PSD Scotland, Roisin Kavanagh, Director of Pharmacy for NHS Ayrshire & Arran, and Matt Barclay, Chief Executive Officer of Community Pharmacy Scotland, to introduce the new Post-Registration Programme for Pharmacists.
Together, they discuss how the programme will support pharmacists in the early stages of their careers through structured workplace learning, credentialing, and professional development. The conversation explores the benefits for pharmacists, employers and patients, and how the programme aligns with Scotland's wider vision for pharmacy workforce development and career progression.
Access Ep1-The Post-Registration Programme for Pharmacists: Developing Pharmacists Early in Their Career - Introduction transcript on our website.
- Post Registration Programme for Pharmacists
- PSD Scotland Pharmacy Website
- Royal Collage of Pharmacy Enhanced Curriculum
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Aug 19, 2026
Aug 19, 2026
31 min
In this episode, Hazel Jamieson and Lisa Dunn discuss the pharmacy technician and support worker workstreams helping to shape the future of Scotland's pharmacy workforce. They explore the challenges of recruitment, retention and increasing service demand, while highlighting the importance of developing the whole pharmacy team to ensure patients are supported by the right person at the right time. The conversation also covers career development, credentialing, equitable access to education and training, and the growing opportunities for pharmacy technicians and support workers to play a key role in delivering high-quality, sustainable patient care.
Access the Ep4-National Pharmacy Workforce Forum Series: Commissions 2,3 & 4: Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Support Staff development transcript on our website.
Resources
National Pharmacy Workforce Forum
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Aug 5, 2026
Aug 5, 2026
29 min
In this episode, Fiona Woodley and Rhona Gunn discuss the work of the Foundation Training Year (FTY) Commission and its efforts to develop a sustainable and equitable approach to training placement allocation for pharmacy trainees across Scotland. They outline the extensive work undertaken to explore different allocation models, considering both trainee preferences and the need to support workforce distribution across all geographical areas. The discussion highlights how the commission has examined factors influencing placement choices, regional workforce requirements, and the support needed for Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPPs) and other educators involved in training delivery.
A central theme of the episode is collaboration, with Fiona and Rhona reflecting on the contributions of stakeholders across the pharmacy profession in shaping potential future approaches. They also discuss an innovative Priority Programmes pilot focused on placements in the Highlands and Islands, designed to create positive trainee experiences while supporting local workforce needs and the long-term sustainability of pharmacy services. The episode concludes by exploring the opportunities and challenges of delivering a national training scheme that balances individual career aspirations with the future workforce needs of Scotland.
Access the S7.Ep3 - National Pharmacy Workforce Forum Series: Commission 6: Foundation Training Year (FTY) pipeline and allocation model transcript on our website.
Resources
National Pharmacy Workforce Forum
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Jul 1, 2026
Jul 1, 2026
29 min
In this episode, Christine Gilmour, Chair of the writing group for the Transforming Roles paper, explores the first publication commissioned by the National Pharmacy Workforce Forum (NPWF). As the opening paper in a wider series, it sets out and defines the core principles needed to support meaningful, long‑term workforce transformation across all sectors of pharmacy practice.
Christine discusses how the paper was developed, the evidence and insights gathered from across both the pharmacy profession and learning from other healthcare professional groups as the whole healthcare workforce continues to modernise. A central theme is the growing importance of all members of the pharmacy team working efficiently and collaboratively and as part of the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, person‑centred care.
The conversation also highlights the critical role of credentialling in supporting this transformation. Christine explains how robust, nationally recognised credentialling frameworks can provide clear development pathways for the workforce while offering the public greater assurance about the skills, competence, and clinical capability of pharmacy professionals in increasingly advanced roles.
Finally, Christine reflects on how the wider profession has contributed to this ongoing work from all areas of pharmacy and indeed from out with pharmacy too, ensuring that the transformation of pharmacy in Scotland is grounded in collaboration, evidence, and the voices of those delivering care every day.
Access the EP2. National Pharmacy Workforce Forum Series: Transforming Roles Paper on our website.
Resources
National Pharmacy Workforce Forum
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Jun 3, 2026
Jun 3, 2026
23 min
In the first episode of the National Pharmacy Workforce Forum (NPWF) series, co-chairs Alison Strath and Scott Garden introduce the National Pharmacy Workforce Forum and its vision for the future of pharmacy in Scotland. They explore why the Forum was established, the key workforce challenges facing the profession today, and the early steps being taken to build a sustainable, adaptable workforce. This episode also highlights how pharmacists, technicians, and the wider pharmacy team can get involved to ensure voices from across all sectors help shape the future of the pharmacy profession.
Access the EP1. National Pharmacy Workforce Forum Series: Introducing the National Pharmacy workforce Forum on our website.
Resources
National Pharmacy Workforce Forum
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
May 20, 2026
May 20, 2026
22 min
In this episode of the PSD Pharmacy Podcast, Elspeth is joined by Greg Logan, SPCLF Operational Lead, and Kristi Long, PSD Librarian, to explore the complexities of evaluating the Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellowship (SPCLF) programme. Together, they discuss why evaluation is crucial to understanding the programme’s impact, while also unpacking the challenges of measuring leadership development in practice.
The conversation delves into different evaluation approaches found in the published literature and considers how these can be applied or adapted to the SPCLF context. Greg and Kristi share insights on capturing meaningful outcomes and navigating the inherent difficulties of assessing long-term leadership growth.
They also reflect on what effective evaluation could mean for the future of the SPCLF programme, including how it can inform ongoing development, demonstrate value, and support continuous improvement. Whether you’re involved in leadership training, programme design, or simply interested in how impact is measured, this episode offers thoughtful perspectives and practical reflections on evaluation in a complex healthcare setting.
Access the EP5. Building Tomorrows Pharmacy Leaders. Evaluating Impact-Insights into work on Evaluation of the SPCLF programme on our website.
Resources
Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows Website
SPCLF Recruitment | Scotland Deanery
PSD Scotland Pharmacy contact email - pharmacy@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Let us know what you think about our podcast series by completing the PSD Scotland Pharmacy Podcast Evaluation Form.
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Apr 29, 2026
Apr 29, 2026
34 min
In this episode of the PSD Pharmacy Podcast, Elspeth is joined by Roisin Kavanagh Director of Pharmacy for Ayrshire and Arran and Laura Wilson Director for Scotland at The Royal College of Pharmacy to discuss the role of the host in the SPCLF programme. They explore what it means to support a SPCLF in practice, why organisations choose to be involved, and the value fellows bring through their leadership development, projects, and fresh perspectives. The conversation highlights the mutual benefits for hosts and fellows, the impact on services and teams, and key lessons learned from hosting the programme.
Whether you’re considering becoming a host organisation or want to understand the wider impact of SPCLF, this episode offers practical insights and reflections from those who champion the scheme from within their organisations
Access the EP4. Building Tomorrow’s Pharmacy Leaders: Insights from Organisations Hosting Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows (SPCLF) - Laura Wilson and Roisin Kavanagh on our website.
Resources
Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows Website
SPCLF Recruitment | Scotland Deanery
NES contact email - pharmacy@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Let us know what you think about our podcast series by completing the NES Pharmacy Podcast Evaluation Form.
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.
Apr 8, 2026
Apr 8, 2026
25 min
In this episode of the NES Pharmacy Podcast, Elspeth is joined by her peers from the current SPCLF cohort. Through their open discussion they share their experiences of being part of the SPCLF programme. They discuss what motivated them to apply, what they’ve found most valuable so far, and the challenges they’ve encountered along the way. The conversation explores how the programme is shaping their leadership thinking and practice in real time, as well as the personal and professional growth they’ve experienced.
Whether you’re considering applying to SPCLF or want to understand how the programme supports the development of future pharmacy leaders, this episode offers honest insights, practical reflections, and advice from those currently on the journey.
Access the EP3. Building Tomorrow’s Pharmacy Leaders: Building Tomorrow’s Pharmacy Leaders: Reflections from Current Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows - Lisa Dunn, Niketa Platt and Rocio Toribio on our website.
Resources
Scottish Pharmacy Clinical Leadership Fellows Website
SPCLF Recruitment | Scotland Deanery
NES contact email - pharmacy@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Let us know what you think about our podcast series by completing the NES Pharmacy Podcast Evaluation Form.
The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.