Managing Veterinary Medicines, brought to you by RCVS Knowledge and Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is freely available to everyone in the veterinary profession. The course provides information on veterinary medicine regulations and the safe and responsible use of veterinary medicines.

The Veterinary Medicines Regulations were updated on Friday 17th May 2024. This course will be updated to reflect these changes. Please subscribe to our newsletter to be informed of RCVS Knowledge updates (subscribe here).

Listen to Alison Pyatt, Training Centre Lead VMD, and Pam Mosedale, QI Clinical Lead RCVS Knowledge, introduce the course.

Read the transcript

Endorsed by:

Endorsed by AMTRA. 
SQPs/RAMAs can claim up to 30% of their CPD points requirement using self-reflection.

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This course is suitable for:

  • Pharmacists
  • Pharmacy technicians
  • Practice managers
  • Practices preparing for the PSS Accreditation and Awards
  • Receptionists
  • Student Veterinary Nurses
  • Student Veterinary Surgeons
  • Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs)
  • Team members that dispense medications
  • Veterinary Care Assistants
  • Veterinary Nurses
  • Veterinary Surgeons

This course covers relevant legislation for: 

  • Companion animal
  • Equine
  • Farm animal

Upon completion, you will be able to:

  • Recognise the key features associated with the responsible use of veterinary medicines.
  • Identify core legislation in place to promote the safe use of veterinary medicines.
  • Outline the key principles of the Prescribing Cascade.
  • Describe the different strategies to counteract the challenges of anthelmintic and antimicrobial resistance.
  • Appreciate the value of dispensary audits and Quality Improvement (QI).
  • Understand the role of the Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) within clinical practice.

Register for free, then work through each module, complete the associated quizzes and obtain the module completion badges to complete the course.

Course image Module 1: Regulation
Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying Legal and Promoting Safety
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Description:

This module will introduce you to the roles and responsibilities of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the core legislation involving medicines. Including:

  • Who are the VMD?
  • Why do we have the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR)?
  • Why is it important to understand the legislation?

CPD: 33 minutes
Authors: Gill Clarke, Anna Burrows
Outcome 1: Outline the roles and responsibilities of the VMD is and how legislation and policies are developed.
Outcome 2: Discuss key areas within the Veterinary Medicines Regulation
Outcome 3: Identify the key features of a medicines label and understand what they mean
Outcome 4: Explain the different distribution categories
Outcome 5: Understand what needs to be considered before a veterinary medicine in authorised for use


Course image Module 2: Responsible and legal use of medicines
Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying Legal and Promoting Safety
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Description:

This module covers how to safely and legally store, and use medicines within the practice. Including:

  • How you should prescribe, supply and dispense medicines.
  • Why it’s important to record and store medicines correctly.
  • How to use the Prescribing Cascade.
  • How to use, store and dispose of Controlled Drugs safely.
  • An introduction to anthelmintic resistance.
  • Why a collaborative approach is required for responsible antimicrobial use.

CPD: 3 hours
Authors: Pam Mosedale, Lee Grist, Donal Murphey, Claire Stratford, Fraser Broadfoot
Outcome 1: Explain the underpinning legal basis to prescribing, supplying, and dispensing medications
Outcome 2: Appreciate what the Prescribing Cascade is and what consent is required when using medicines via the Cascade
Outcome 3: Discuss the special considerations you should take when dealing with controlled drugs
Outcome 4: Understand what effects anthelmintic resistance has on the environment, patients, and people.
Outcome 5: Indicate the collaborative approach developed to reduce antibiotic use.


Course image Module 3: Dispensary management
Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying Legal and Promoting Safety
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Description:

This module includes all the need-to-know facts about dispensary management within the practice. Including:

  • How to run your dispensary safely and efficiently.
  • How to reduce waste in the dispensary and be more sustainable.
  • Who is a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) and what is their role?

CPD: 1 hour 40 minutes
Authors: Pam Mosedale, Anne Lawson, Phil Sketchley
Outcome 1: Understand why effective dispensary management is important
Outcome 2: Explain different waste categories and list examples of how waste should be disposed of
Outcome 3: Understand who can become a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP)
Outcome 4: Explain the role of an SQP


Course image Module 4: QI in the dispensary: Preventing errors
Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying Legal and Promoting Safety
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Description:

This module discusses errors that can occur in the dispensary, and the systems that can be put in place to help prevent them. Including:

  • How to use Quality Improvement (QI) successfully in the dispensary.
  • How to avoid errors in the dispensary.

CPD: 1 hour
Authors: Pam Mosedale, Kathrine Blackie
Outcome 1: Understand what types of audits can be performed in the dispensary
Outcome 2: Explain why auditing in the dispensary is important
Outcome 3: Understand what type of errors can occur in the dispensary
Outcome 4: Recognise common causes of errors and mistakes
Outcome 5: Explain systems that can help prevent errors and understand how to develop them for your practice



Course image Final steps
Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying Legal and Promoting Safety
Badge Enrolment
Description:

This module can be accessed once you have completed the course and received a completion badge. This will allow you to leave feedback on the course, and access your CPD certificate.

CPD: Collect your 6 hours CPD here
Authors: RCVS Knowledge and VMD