As the 30th of June approaches, pharmacy teams across the UK are juggling a lot – hayfever season, travel vaccinations, and even early prep for flu season. But there’s one more critical task that can’t be pushed aside: submitting your Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT).
This annual requirement isn’t just a tick-box exercise. It’s a core part of your NHS contract, and missing the deadline – or submitting an incomplete Toolkit – can have serious consequences for your pharmacy’s compliance and reputation.
One of the most important elements of the DSPT? Staff training. Your team must be able to demonstrate the highest standards in handling patient data. So, how can you make sure your training is up to scratch – not just for this year, but every year?
Here are three practical steps to help you stay ahead:
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Choose the Right Training for Your Team
Whether they’re on the counter, in the dispensary or out delivering medicines, every pharmacy team member needs to understand data security. Pharmacies handle highly sensitive patient information, and the NHS expects everyone working in the pharmacy to meet strict standards.
The Community Pharmacy England (CPE) website offers several training options, including pharmacy-specific guides and more general data security courses. You might also consider delivering in-house sessions tailored to your team’s needs.
At a minimum, your training should cover:
- What data security and information governance mean
- Why they matter in a pharmacy setting
- How to identify and protect confidential, personal, and sensitive data
- The importance of using accurate, up-to-date information
Top tip: Use real-life pharmacy scenarios to make the training more relatable and practical for your team.
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Keep Training Certificates Up to Date
Most pharmacies include data security training in their induction process – but it doesn’t stop there. Staff need to refresh their training annually, which means everyone will be on different timelines.
To avoid a last-minute scramble, keep a central record of training dates and certificates. That way, when it’s time to submit the DSPT, you’ll know exactly who’s compliant and who needs a nudge.
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Stay on Track with Smart Reminders
The final weeks before the DSPT deadline can be hectic. The last thing you want is to be chasing certificates or reminding staff to complete training.
Set up a system of automated reminders and regular check-ins throughout the year. This keeps everyone on track and gives you peace of mind when it’s time to submit.
Get Ahead for Next Year – Starting Now
Once the deadline passes, it’s tempting to move on to the next urgent task. But while it’s fresh in your mind, now is the perfect time to lay the groundwork for a smoother submission next year.
At Mediapharm, we get it. Running a community pharmacy is demanding, and compliance can feel like just another thing on your plate. That’s why we’ve developed a Data Security Awareness for Pharmacy course that meets DSPT requirements and fits seamlessly into your workflow.
✅ Delivered as part of your induction
✅ Annual reminders for each staff member
✅ Certificates tracked automatically
✅ Dashboard to monitor all our statutory training — Data Security, Health & Safety, safeguarding, fire safety, and more
Want to make DSPT training one less thing to worry about?
Book a call with one of our pharmacy training experts today.
