NHS Jobs
This section helps those looking to improve their role within hospital
pharmacy and those looking to make the rewarding move into hospital
pharmacy.
A hospital pharmacist is an expert in
medicines and their use. Your role will be very similar to community
pharmacy as you ensure that patients get the maximum
benefit from their medicines.
You will advise medical and nursing staff on the selection and
appropriate use of medicines and provide information to patients on
how to manage their medicines to ensure optimal treatment.
Pharmacists are able to undertake additional training in order
to allow them to prescribe medicines for specific conditions within
hospital
pharmacy.
Opportunities also exist for pharmacists to work in specialist
fields such as the pharmaceutical industry,
education and medical writing. Feel free to give us a call to
discuss opportunities in your area.
The benefits of hospital pharmacy:
- Direct involvement in patient care; influencing treatment
choices by being involved in decision making at the point of
prescribing; making a difference to the patient; a sense of
contribution
- Being part of a number of teams; extensive social and
professional networks in the pharmacy and throughout the
hospital
- Support from fellow pharmacists and colleagues is always
available
- The opportunity to get input from, observe, and work with,
several pharmacists rather than just one role model, enabling you
to formulate your own preferred practice
- A clearly defined career structure with opportunities to
develop in a range of skills which may include technical, clinical,
education or management positions.
- Recognition of your expertise in whatever speciality you
choose; acknowledgement of your achievements; pharmacists and
pharmacy services are highly valued by colleagues and
management
- Continuing professional and career development
Responsibilites
Hospital pharmacists are experts in the field of medicines. They
are responsible for the purchase, manufacture, dispensing, quality
testing and supply of all the medicines used in the hospital. They
work closely with medical and nursing staff to ensure patients
receive the most appropriate treatment, and provide help and advice
to patients in all aspects of their medicines.
They advise on the selection of medicines and the dose and route
of administration for individual patients. They provide information
about potential side effects and ensure that new treatments are
compatible with existing medication. In addition, they monitor the
effects of treatment to ensure that it is safe and
effective.
As the medicines expert in the healthcare team, you are able to
provide advice about the effects that a medicine or combination of
medicines may produce. You will give advice on dosage, suggest the
most appropriate form of medication - such as tablet, injection,
ointment, inhaler - and discuss with the medical staff the
potential problems patients may experience with their
medicines.
You will be expected to provide specialist advice on medicines for
patients with conditions such as heart failure, kidney or liver
disease, and for pregnant or breast-feeding women who should not
take some medicines.
You will work with individual patients to help select the most
appropriate therapy, taking account of factors including their
existing medication, their medical history, their lifestyle and
their ability to understand and adhere to a treatment
plan.
As well as working on the wards with patients, there are several
roles that are undertaken within the pharmacy itself. Your main
role in the dispensary is to "professionally check" all
prescriptions to ensure that the dispensed medicines are
appropriate and safe for the individual patient.
In the medicines information department, pharmacists use a range
of reference sources, including electronic databases and the
Internet, to provide detailed information to healthcare
professionals and patients about all aspects of medicines
usage. New drugs are evaluated and compared to existing
treatments before the hospital decides whether to purchase
them.
Pharmacists are also involved in the manufacture of medicines when
ready-made preparations are not available. For example, certain
cancer treatments and intravenous feeding solutions need to be
tailor made under sterile conditions for individual
patients.
Specialised roles in other areas such as procurement,
radiotherapy, quality assurance and education also
exist.
Many pharmacists combine their professional role with some form of
managerial responsibility, and also often will be involved in
monitoring and reporting on expenditure from the budget for
medicine usage within the hospital.
Most hospital pharmacists are involved in a range of activities
and work with a variety of healthcare staff and NHS managers so
team working, together with the ability to communicate well at all
levels, is essential.
Accuracy and attention to detail are important, as is the ability
to use your foundation in science when solving problems.
Alternatively contact
us on 020 784 32410
Email: info@resourcing.uk.com
View our pharmacy
vacancies here.