Writing a reflective account

GPhC Professional Standard 1 requires pharmacy professionals to provide person-centred care. The following is an example of what a reflective account may look like based on this standard.

“After completing a CPD module on antimicrobial stewardship in Pharmacy Magazine, I decided to review our current practices around managing patient expectations for self-limiting infections. I asked a team member who regularly deals with patient queries to also complete the module and suggest improvements as to how we could incorporate AMS principles into our daily interactions with patients.

At our next staff meeting, we discussed the key messages from the module and how to address common misconceptions about antibiotics. We agreed to focus on providing patients with clear advice on self-care and infection durations using evidence-based tools such as the TARGET toolkit. The team identified common scenarios where AMS advice would be most useful and brainstormed ways to integrate this into our consultations.

We also created a visible AMS resource area, including posters and leaflets explaining self-limiting infections and the risks of unnecessary antibiotic use. I reached out to our local GP surgery and spoke to the AMS lead in the area, agreeing on a joint approach to patient education.

These changes have improved patient awareness, with fewer inappropriate requests for antibiotics during Pharmacy First consultations. This work supports person-centred care by empowering patients with accurate information and fosters partnership working with local healthcare providers.”