About

All the information behind our award winning eLearning

Introduction

SCRIPT is an innovative eLearning programme designed to encourage safe and effective prescribing and medicines management among newly qualified doctors and other healthcare professionals.

It was developed by the University of Birmingham (see more at: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/clinical-sciences/script.aspx) and OCB Media, and commissioned by NHS England (then Health Education England West Midlands).

In the UK, medication errors account for 10-20% of all adverse events and a quarter of litigations claims in the NHS, and preventable harm from medicines is estimated to cost more than £750 million each year. In 2009, the EQUIP study commissioned by the GMC found that trainee doctors prescribe with an error rate of 8-10%.

As a result, SCRIPT was created in 2010 to improve prescribing competency among foundation doctors. Since its launch, further SCRIPT variants have been developed for foundation dentists, paediatric trainee specialists, nurses, undergraduate medical and pharmacy students, GPs, and non-medical prescribers.

Each SCRIPT programme consists of a number of modules covering a wide range of crucial therapeutic topics. A module usually takes around 30 – 60 minutes to complete. All course materials have been authored by a team of expert healthcare professionals, and are regularly reviewed and updated.

SCRIPT Timeline

2024

1 million module completions

The total number of successfully completed SCRIPT modules passes 1 million.

2023

Global library launched

The initial phase of the SCRIPT global library is launched. Allowing institutions and organisations to choose the modules they use from across the SCRIPT portfolios on a course by course basis.

2022

Module design updated

All SCRIPT modules are updated to a new design that provides enhanced functionality and improved accessibility.

2020

New delivery milestones

The total number of successfully completed SCRIPT modules passes 500,000. Over half of UK medical schools, in addition to the entire HEE Foundation Programme, now use SCRIPT as a dedicated resource, with Nursing schools starting to adopt SCRIPT Nursing.

2020

Ambulance, Interim Foundation and Covid-19

Late 2019/early 2020 sees a flurry of SCRIPT activity with the release of two new portfolios, the creation of Covid-19 specific material and free access to the resource for all NHS staff during the pandemic surge.

2018

GP version is piloted

GP SCRIPT trialed by West Midlands trainees from February 2018

2016

Nursing programme launched

Nursing SCRIPT goes live with 17 modules commissioned by the Academic Health Science Network

2016

Paediatric programme launched

Paediatric SCRIPT for specialist paediatric trainees is launched with 11 modules

2013

Dental programme launched

Dental SCRIPT with 7 modules for foundation dentists is launched

2011

Integration into Training

The foundation doctor programme is integrated into postgraduate training in the West Midlands.

2010

Foundation SCRIPT launched

Foundation SCRIPT (later renamed to Medicine & Surgery SCRIPT) for F1 and F2 trainees goes live with 38 modules (later expanded to 47)

2010

SCRIPT commissioned

Health Education England (West Midlands team) commissions the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick, and Aston to develop an online eLearning programme to improve prescribing competency of trainee doctors

2009

EQUIP Study

The study finds that foundation doctors have error rates of 8-10% in their prescriptions, and that they are poorly prepared for prescribing.