Join BOPA
Back to news articles

Launch of the BOPA Initial Training Programme for Cancer Care – Clinical Pharmacy

By BOPA Committee on 7th April 2026

Dear BOPA Members,

We are pleased to announce the launch of the BOPA Initial Training Programme for Cancer Care – Clinical Pharmacy.

This programme has been developed to support the standardisation of education and training for clinical pharmacy staff working in cancer care, providing a structured foundation of knowledge for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians entering the specialty and  outlines the core knowledge and tumour-specific competencies expected of clinical pharmacy staff working in oncology and haemato-oncology services.

Importantly, this training programme is designed to complement the BOPA Digital SACT Verification Passport. While the Passport focuses on the verification of SACT prescriptions, this document provides the broader clinical knowledge framework that underpins safe cancer pharmaceutical care.

Both resources should therefore be used together as part of training and workforce development.

NOTE: It is not imperative to have completed this pack prior to BOPA Digital SACT Verification Passport sign off.

The programme can be used by organisations and supervisors to support:

  • Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians new to cancer services
  • Staff undertaking rotations into haemato-oncology
  • Structured local training programmes and mentorship

The document is available here https://www.bopa.org.uk/resources/initial-training-programme-guide-for-cancer-care-clinical-pharmacy/ to PAID BOPA members only. If you are not a PAID member and wish to support BOPA and access this resource and many more JOIN HERE https://www.bopa.org.uk/join-bopa/

Please refer to the Scope and How to Use this Training Guide sections for further information on how the programme should be implemented in practice.

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to get in touch and the team will be happy to help.

 

Kind regards,
Sarah Mitchell, BOPA Verification Passport Lead,

Netty Cracknell, BOPA Verification Passport Founder,

Tadah Tahmasi, BOPA Initial Training Programme for Cancer Care Project Chair

Latest News

By SHBN on 8th April 2026

SHBN Webinar – Safer Handling of Hazardous Medicinal Products: Evidence, Practice and Policy Change

This session will bring together research and policy perspectives to explore the current evidence base, the practical realities faced by healthcare professionals, and the policy considerations shaping future improvements in…

Read article
By BOPA Pharmacy Technician Subcommittee on 7th April 2026

Sharing Best Practice of BOPA Member Sarah Goman (Senior Pharmacy Technician) – New Pharmacy Patient Information Animations Launched at Velindre University NHS Trust

New Pharmacy Patient Information Animations Launched! – Velindre University NHS Trust Sarah Goman, Pharmacy Patient Education Team Lead and the driving force behind these videos, said: “We wanted to make…

Read article
By Caoimhe Keenan on 7th April 2026

APTUK joins BOPA and PASG in Pharmacy Workforce Position Statement on Safer Handling of Hazardous SACT Drugs

Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce that the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) has now formally joined the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) and the NHS Pharmaceutical Aseptic Services Group (PASG) in endorsing the…

Read article
By Aaliyah Bhikha, Pharmacy Student on 6th April 2026

BOPA AI Blog: Finding the Balance – Responsible AI Use for Students

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly common in clinical settings, it is also being adopted by pharmacy students to help streamline their experience at university. When used appropriately, AI can…

Read article