Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA)

The Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA)  https://prescribingsafetyassessment.ac.uk/ is a mandatory assessment for the completion of F1 training. This assessment was introduced as a requirement by the GMC. Most UK medical graduates will be in possession of a valid pass prior to entry to F1 however some will be required to pass during the F1 year.

The MSC Assessment (MSCA) have set specific dates for the PSA throughout the training year. The Foundation School would expect that, as this is a mandatory requirement for successful completion of ARCP and hence registration with the GMC, Foundation doctors should be allowed to take leave to sit the assessment. The Foundation School would expect that F1 doctors should not be required to swap shifts or sit the assessment during annual leave. The dates and times are set nationally by the MSC and are publicised well in advance to allow planning. If there are challenges in rotas then the FPD and/or Consortium Lead should be expected to support the Foundation doctor to secure time to sit the assessment.

For Foundation doctors who passed the PSA before 2024 but have not started F1 training, please note that only passes achieved after January 2023 are valid.  Foundation doctors who passed before this period will be required to resit the PSA and pass before completion of the F1 year.

At the start of each training year the Foundation School team will confirm the PSA pass in Turas Training Portfolio for every Foundation doctor who passed the PSA at Medical School or who passes during F1.

• For those who passed at Medical School, passes will be confirmed during the first block of F1
• For those who pass during F1, passes will be confirmed after results are released for the relevant PSA sitting

Once your PSA pass has been confirmed you will be able to upload your PSA certificate into your Turas Training Portfolio. 

If you have passed and can no longer access your PSA account to download your certificate you must approach your medical school who will be able to confirm your PSA result, this must be provided on University headed paper and uploaded into your Turas Training Portfolio.

As the PSA is required for the end of F1 and not the entry point, any Foundation doctor who has yet to pass should not be required to have a different level of prescribing supervision unless the clinical/educational supervisors or FPDs have identified a prescribing concern. All Foundation doctors irrespective of their PSA status require to have their prescribing supervised by the clinical team.

If you have any queries about sitting the PSA, please contact sfas@nes.scot.nhs.uk

It is recommended that foundation doctors who are appointed to a F2 stand-alone post sit the PSA however this is not mandatory. The Foundation School will contact F2 standalone doctors in early 2025 about sitting PSA.

 

SCRIPT (Standardised Computerised Revalidation Instrument for Prescribing and Therapeutics)

• SCRIPT is an e-learning programme to improve prescribing competency and safety and aligns with GMC guidance on safe prescribing and medical education 
• SCRIPT modules are used in all nations of the UK by trainees to support prescribing
• Foundation doctors should registrar at the following Scotland specific SCRIPT link: https://scot.safeprescriber.org/
• You can also download the SCRIPT User Guide here 
• SCRIPT e-learning can be used to help prepare candidates for PSA please see here for a list of helpful SCRIPT modules to help you prepare

 

Dates for PSA sittings - location of sitting(s) to be confirmed 

	Time	Location of sitting
2024 - 2025
Tuesday, 10 September 2024	13:00	Registration has closed. All candidates have been advised of their venue
Thursday, 20 March 2025	13:00	tbc
Thursday, 1 May 2025	13:00	tbc
2025 - 2026
Tuesday, 9 September 2025	13:00	tbc
Thursday, 26 March 2026	13:00	tbc
Thursday, 23 April 2026	13:00	tbc

 

General Prescribing Guidance

GMC guidance on Good practice in prescribing and managing medicines and devices which applies from 5th April 2021 can be found here.

 

Timeline for PSA

• March onwards - applicants provide details of PSA status on the STEP Form
• June onwards - individual STEP form is shared with APGDs and FPDs including PSA status
• August onwards - MSCA provide details of incoming F1s who need to sit the PSA - those who need to sit exam in September are sign posted to the guidance
• September onwards - following each sitting of PSA the relevant APGD and FPDs are informed and those who need to sit PSA and offer support and after each sitting of the PSA

This page was last updated on: 17.10.2024 at 13.15