Hospital Pharmacist
Hospital pharmacists work in a hospital pharmacy service,
primarily within the public sector. They are responsible for
ensuring the safe, appropriate and cost-effective use of medicines.
Hospital pharmacists use their specialist knowledge to dispense
drugs and advise patients about the medicines they have been
prescribed. They work collaboratively with other health care
professionals to devise the most appropriate drug treatment for
patients. Some pharmacists are also involved in manufacturing
required drug treatments.
The role of the hospital pharmacist sometimes extends outside
the hospital, with responsibility for medicines in health centres,
nursing homes, hospices and general practitioners' (GP)
surgeries.
Conditions
- Pre-registration graduates start on £19,683 (Band 5).
- Typical starting salaries for qualified hospital pharmacists
range from £23,458 to £31,779 (Band 6). Pharmacists with ten or
more years' experience may earn up to £75,114 as a pharmacy
consultant or pharmacy team manager (Bands 8C-D).
- The recently introduced national pay scales brought in under
the Agenda for Change consist of nine salary bands. The changes are
designed to offer fairer pay, harmonised terms and conditions and a
more transparent reward system for staff who work outside normal
hours.
- Some trusts in The National Health Service (NHS) may offer an
additional payment of between £867 and £5,779 to compensate for the
higher costs associated with working in inner and outer London and
fringe areas (all salary data collected April 08).
- NHS staff also benefit from the NHS pension scheme and a
generous holiday entitlement. Many hospitals offer accommodation.
Rates are usually reasonable and are sometimes subsidised.
- NHS hospital pharmacists typically work a 37.5 hour week.
Working hours are mainly nine to five with some extra hours, and
normally involve some weekend and evening cover, usually on a rota
basis.
- Pharmacists work in the dispensary and on the wards, with
regular patient contact, on a daily basis. They may also work in
laboratories and small, sterile rooms called 'clean rooms'. Much of
the work involves dealing directly with chemicals and medicines.
Working conditions may be cramped and hot. A uniform of sterile
clothing, including gloves and a gown, is required.
- Jobs are available in most towns and cities, but seldom in
rural areas.
- There are more women than men at present in this
profession.
- Travel within a working day within the UK and overseas is
uncommon.
Progression
After becoming a registered pharmacist with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain (RPSGB) and obtaining a job, the majority of
hospital pharmacists develop their careers by taking a certificate
or diploma in clinical pharmacy, which is often followed by an MSc.
This is usually necessary to be able to progress to more senior
grades. All pharmacists take a wide range of training to support
them in their chosen specialty or career path. Training
opportunities include in-house training provided by the pharmacy
department or hospital, regionally or nationally organised study
days or courses, initial specialty training and training in
management.
Pharmacists need to keep abreast of developments in drug
research, including the new drugs that are developed and come on
the market; the new methods of treating conditions with drugs; and
government and hospital policies for drug treatment.
Further training also forms part of a pharmacist's continuing
professional development (CPD). An appraisal of the Royal
Pharmaceutical Society's whole CPD recording and review process is
in progress to help prepare the pharmacy profession for mandatory
CPD in autumn 2008.
Upon successfully completing the pre-registration (pre-reg) year,
pharmacists normally enter the hospital pharmacy service at basic Band 6. At
this stage, pharmacists must be registered as members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
of Great Britain (RPSGB) (MRPharmS).
Like pre-reg trainees, newly qualified Band 6 pharmacists
usually rotate between different pharmacy services offered by their
hospital. These may include:
- clinical pharmacy;
- medicines information;
- medicines management;
- aseptic/technical services;
- dispensary services;
- community pharmacy services;
- primary care;
- radiopharmacy (the use of radioactive materials);
- clinical trials.
Although this is still considered a training grade,
responsibilities are likely to include the servicing of a ward, or
group of wards, as part of clinical pharmacy duties.
Following several years of experience, pharmacists may apply for
a Band 7
pharmacist job. This is usually a rotational role but with more
emphasis on specialising in a chosen area of pharmacy practice, for
example:
- paediatric care;
- haematology;
- quality control;
- procurement and distribution;
- radiopharmacy.
A recognised career pathway exists within the NHS, providing the
opportunity to progress to the role of supplementary or independent
prescriber, working within a Primary Care Trust as a Prescribing
Adviser or becoming a Hospital Pharmacy Consultant at salary Band
9.
Pharmacists may also take on a role as a tutor by lecturing
pre-reg trainees, delivering presentations to other medical staff
or providing tutorial support to undergraduate pharmacy
students.
Opportunities also exist for pharmacists to undertake locum
work.
Typical employers
Around 6,000 pharmacists work in UK hospitals. The majority of
hospital pharmacists work for hospitals in The National Health
Service (NHS).
In times of staff shortage, NHS trusts may employ locum
pharmacists to work in their hospital pharmacy departments. Some
locum pharmacists work for an agency but others may work for an
individual hospital or NHS trust on a casual basis.
Apart from the NHS, some hospital pharmacists work in the
private sector. The independent and voluntary healthcare sector has
been growing for several years. Three of the largest operators in
the UK are BMI Healthcare, BUPA and Nuffield Hospitals. They, and
other providers, run care homes for older people, adults and
children with mental health, learning, or physical disabilities, as
well as around 300 hospitals and clinics.
Contact us
on 020 784 32410