'Pharmacy in the future: implementing the NHS plan' sets out a challenging agenda for the pharmacy profession. The key emphasis is 'the patient' around whom the plan is designed. To work effectively as a pharmacist, it is vital to have clinical skills to identify and solve pharmaceutical care issues; undergraduates therefore need to learn and practice clinical skills. To achieve this aim, a patient focussed education programme has been developed at the School of Pharmacy, University of London. There are two components to this: learning and practising clinical skills via clinical hospital visits and improving communication skills via patient interviews at the School. Patient volunteers for the interviews are recruited by contacting local self-help groups and forming links by giving talks and by contributing to written articles in their newsletters. Patient interviews involving volunteers have been taking place at the School for the last 3 years.

The aim of this research project was explore patients' experiences of teaching pharmacy undergraduates. All volunteers were contacted and asked if they were willing to take part in a qualitative study to explore these issues. Semi-structured interviews were conducted over the phone or in the patient's home, at their work place or at the university. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed for analysis.

Interviews with seventeen patients disclosed varying responses as to why patients volunteered to be involved in pharmacy education. Patients believed that their involvement with pharmacy students would improve pharmacist-patient relationships in the future. Some patients stated that they wanted the 'future pharmacists' to be more patient-focused; by being involved in teaching, they would be able to nurture pharmacy students in this way. Patients believed that they were 'experts' in their illnesses and were themselves information providers. Other reasons for wanting to be involved in teaching included a willingness to help and repaying the NHS.

Patients also spoke of the benefits they had from these educational programmes. They had gained more knowledge about their illnesses and their medicines, and were more questioning of their illnesses and their medicines when they met healthcare professionals. Patients appreciated talking to students. For some, sessions enhanced self esteem and confidence, enabling them to open up and air their feelings and opinions regarding their illnesses, and relieving loneliness.

In conclusion, patients felt extremely positive about the teaching. They both benefited from and contributed to creating future pharmacists.