Dual qualification launched to prepare pharmacists for the future

A pioneering dual qualification to help future pharmacists shape the next era of healthcare has been launched through a partnership between Teesside University and Health Coaching Academy (HCA).

The collaboration integrates a recognised Health Coaching qualification directly into Teesside University’s MPharm degree, offering students a unique blend of scientific, clinical and interpersonal capabilities which reflect priorities for the pharmacy workforce.

It will help to equip future pharmacists with the advanced communication, consultation and person?centred care skills demanded by an evolving healthcare system.

The programme aligns closely with the NHS Long Term Plan and Royal College of Pharmacy’s Vision for Pharmacy Practice in England which highlight the increasing need for pharmacists to support prevention, long-term condition management, shared decision-making and personalised care.

Embedding Health Coaching will help to ensure MPharm graduates are clinically capable and grounded in behaviour-change techniques, motivational interviewing, and effective patient communication.

The MPharm is a four-year programme combining academic study with practical training. It includes lectures, workshops, placements, and a strong focus on clinical and communication skills.

Mahsa Abadi and Saeed Mirzaei, both 34 and originally from Iran, are among students currently completing the course. Both say the integration of health coaching within the MPharm programme was a key factor in choosing to study at Teesside University.

Mahsa said: “The integration of health coaching reflects the evolving role of pharmacists in modern healthcare. The dual qualification in health coaching is extremely valuable to me. It has introduced us to a different way of supporting patients, one that focuses on empowering individuals rather than directing them.

"Having completed my first year, I feel the course is building a solid foundation in both clinical knowledge and professional skills. The inclusion of health coaching has been particularly impactful, as it has strengthened my communication skills and my ability to engage with patients in a more holistic and person-centred way.

“We have learned how to facilitate meaningful conversations that help patients identify their own goals and make informed decisions about their health. This is especially important in managing long-term conditions, where sustainable change comes from within the patient.”

Saeed said: “For me, the best part has been how practical the course is. The placement experience helped me build confidence in real settings and led to my first job offer in a pharmacy in North Shields.

“The teaching team is very supportive, and the health coaching qualification is a valuable skill we can use in real patient interactions. The health coaching qualification is highly significant. It has helped us move beyond a traditional, advice-giving role towards a more collaborative approach with patients. We are learning how to support individuals in identifying their own priorities and making informed, sustainable changes to their health.”

He added: “I aim to become an independent prescriber pharmacist working in a hospital setting, particularly in cardiology, and I am also interested in working within a GP practice. Health coaching will be especially valuable in supporting patients with long-term conditions.”

Also looking to the future, Mahsa added said: “I aspire to become an independent prescriber pharmacist working in a hospital setting, ideally within paediatrics. I am particularly interested in supporting patients and families, and I believe that health coaching will enable me to help them feel more confident and involved in decisions about their care.”

Professor Sam Weston, Director of Pharmacy at Teesside University, said: “This partnership allows us to train pharmacists who are not only clinically competent but also confident in the person-centred skills the NHS now expects. By integrating a recognised Health Coaching qualification into our MPharm, we are equipping our graduates to lead the transformation of pharmacy practice and to make a meaningful impact in communities across England.”

Kaye Burnett, Director of the Health Coaching Academy, added: “Pharmacists are being asked to take on increasingly complex, people-facing roles, yet many tell us they’ve never been taught the skills that make those conversations effective. This partnership changes that.

“Together, we will develop a new generation of pharmacists who can support behaviour change, build trust and deliver the kind of personalised care the NHS urgently needs.”

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