Foundation Trainee Information
Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Recruitment 2026-27: Register by 23:59 on 1st March
Employer registration for the 2026-2027 foundation training year via the National Recruitment Scheme (Oriel), is now open.
Please remember that the National Recruitment Scheme is the only route for employing a foundation trainee pharmacist. Employers cannot recruit foundation trainee pharmacists directly.
Registration closes at 23:59 on 1st March 2025 so act now. For full details, including the registration form, how to guide, and a comprehensive Employer Handbook, visit the National Recruitment Scheme website.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact england.wtepharmacy.nw@nhs.net
For more general information on the changes there are resources for employers on the NHSE website. The main presentation and summary will provide you with the key information you need to prepare now.
- For the 2025/26 training year, all trainees will need access to a prescribing environment and designated prescribing practitioner. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy employer to enable this.
- From 2026/27 all trainees will need access to a rotation (at least 13 weeks) in an alternative sector (hospital, general practice, H&J
NHS GM, CPGM and NW NHSE leads are currently working together to plan support for DPP placements. In order to provide you with more information and answer some key questions, an update and FAQ’s have been published. Read more
You can also read the NHS employers letter
You can also watch a narrated presentation and narrated summary on YouTube channel.
- For the 2025/26 training year, all trainees will need access to a prescribing environment and designated prescribing practitioner. It is the responsibility of the pharmacy employer to enable this.
- From 2026/27 all trainees will need access to a rotation (at least 13 weeks) in an alternative sector (hospital, general practice, H&J).
PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to host a trainee if they do not register on and use the Oriel platform.
More information can be found on the NHSE pharmacy recruitment website.
For more general information on the changes there are resources for employers on the NHSE website. The main presentation and summary will provide you with the key information you need to prepare now.
You can also watch a narrated presentation and narrated summary on YouTube channel.
To support you, a range of FAQ’s have also been published in relation to funding for the Foundation Training Year 2025/26
If you have any questions about the changes to foundation training please get in touch with england.wtepharmacy.nw@nhs.net
Webinar: Now available on-demand
The GM Healthcare Academy and CPGM hosted a webinar for NW LPCs, contractor and Pharmacy teams on Thursday 8th February 2024 at 7.30 pm via Zoom which contains the guidance on the ORIEL system and how to access DPP training.
The link to the recorded webinar can be found here:
https://youtu.be/dvrKrdOLd8Y?si=sxZryDJ6u6-rYBI8
The slides can also be accessed via the links below:
NWLPCs ORIEL webinar update Feb 2024
Propharmace update for NWLPCs webinar Feb 2024
If community pharmacists and contractors have any queries regarding ORIEL or have queries relating to the foundation trainee programme you can email england.wtepharmacy.nw@nhs.net
