Pharmacy Job Roles

There are many jobs roles within the Pharmacy service, catering to various different experience levels and skill sets.

Consultant Pharmacists

We are privileged to have four Consultant Pharmacists within the Trust:

  • Consultant in Critical Care and Cardiology
  • Consultant in Pain Management and Peri-Operative Care
  • Consultant in Paediatrics
  • Consultant in Respiratory and Palliation

These consultants cover all complex, medicines-related issues referred to them via clinical colleagues, both internally and externally to the department.  They are responsible for compiling medicines-related guidance for pharmacists and technicians, whilst actively participating in Trust forums, such as the Clinical Governance Committee and the Drug and Therapeutics Committee. They also contribute to the investigation and completion of Serious Incident reports and run a “Consultant Pharmacist of the Day” service, in order to help with difficult or complex medication issues.

The consultants also represent the Trust across the UK in various forums.

Band 8 Pharmacists

Our clinical pharmacy teams are supported by lead pharmacists, who provide care to specialist areas.  These include nutrition, renal medicine, critical care, antimicrobials, care of older people and haematology.  As well as providing specialist knowledge, they also attend governance meetings, multi-disciplinary ward rounds and clinics, whilst providing support and development opportunities to other members of the pharmacy teams.

Band 7 Pharmacists

Upon completion of a certificate / diploma, pharmacists progress to a rotational programme. This gives them the opportunity to specialise in clinical areas.

Band 6 Pharmacists

As part of a band 6 pharmacist rotation at DBTH, there are many opportunities to facilitate work based learning in conjunction with the clinical diploma at Bradford University. There is the opportunity to rotate every 3 months into a different ward or care group, offering a well-rounded knowledge base for either newly qualified hospital pharmacists, or those who have come from a community pharmacy background.

Example rotations for a band 6 pharmacist include:

  • Stroke
  • Endocrine
  • Orthopaedics
  • Gastroenterology
  • Respiratory
  • Vascular/Urology
  • General surgery
  • Care of the older person

Rotating as a band 6 pharmacist will entail regular meetings with the senior band 8 pharmacist. This is in order to facilitate learning objectives and to offer clinical support where needed. Band 6 pharmacists also participate in on call shift and weekend work, which entails being responsible for the pharmacy department on an evening.

Trainee Pharmacists

We provide full year placements and a six month Bradford sandwich placement across the Trust.  We have an established training programme to enable trainees to achieve the GPhC performance standards.  Our training programme provides a comprehensive introduction into clinical pharmacy – allowing opportunities to work on surgical, medical, orthopaedic, paediatric, renal and mental health wards – as well as the inpatient dispensary and medicines information.  Trainee pharmacists gain valuable experience working alongside our team of medicines management technicians and pharmacists, including opportunities to accompany pharmacists on ward rounds, or to visit with members of the multi-disciplinary team.

We also provide an in house tutorial programme and trainees attend regional training days.

For those trainees requiring it, accommodation is available at both sites. Recruitment is undertaken via ORIEL

Pharmacy Technician Practitioners

Pharmacy Technician Practitioners assist in the discharge of patients by ordering medication and arranging MDS. They also support anti-coagulation counselling and the provision of medication reminder cards.

Technicians and Assistants

  • Medicines Optimisation Technician (Band 4/5)
    • Qualification requireds: NVQ level 3 and BTEC level 3
    • Dispensary role includes
      • co-coordinating dispensary workload
      • accuracy checks for all dispensed items
      • supervision of cytotoxics and parenteral nutrition preparation
    • Ward services role includes
      • Medicines reconciliation
      • Ordering patients medications
      • Ordering non-stock medication

Assistants and Dispensing Pharmacy Assistant

This job includes topping up the ward service, alongside receiving, distributing and replenishing stock. You will also be required to dispense inpatient and take home medication, as well as cytotoxic and parenteral nutrition.

  • Qualifications required: GCSE grade 4 or above in English, Maths and Science. NVQ level 2 and BTEC level 2
  • Apprenticeships are also available to enable level 2 assistants to progress to level 3 (with the addition of a second science)

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