Pharmacist
A Pharmacist is an expert in medicines and their use, They can be involved in all aspects of their use, preparation, discovery and development, and in the monitoring of their effects. A Pharmacist working in the NHS can specialise in either Hospital Pharmacy or Community Pharmacy.
Hospital Pharmacy
Hospital Pharmacists are experts within the healthcare team who use their specialised knowledge and experience to give advice on dosage, appropriate form and time of administration. In many hospitals, the Pharmacist also meets patients during ward rounds to discuss the supply and form of appropriate medicines, as well as consulting with other healthcare professionals.
Hospital pharmacies are heavily computerised and use computers to store and retrieve information. Hospital Pharmacists use the Internet and worldwide databases extensively when answering drug queries from medical and nursing staff and from patients. They also use computers in their daily work for dispensing, stock control, therapeutic drug monitoring and audit.
Community Pharmacy
Community Pharmacists work in a retail environment where they prepare and dispense medicines on prescription to the general public. A Pharmacist gives advice to customers on how to use prescribed medicines. They make sure that patients realise when prescriptions should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol or with other medication and how other prescribed medicines will interact.
Entry Requirements
Typical minimum entry requirements are four Highers passes at BBBB, including Chemistry, Mathematics and English, plus Physics or Biology or Human Biology. Two Scottish Universities – Robert Gordon University and Strathclyde University offer the Master of Pharmacy degree.
Training
To qualify as a Pharmacist, training consists of a four year Master of Pharmacy degree course, followed by one year of pre-registration training based in a pharmacy practice. In addition to work in the NHS as a qualified Pharmacist, you must be State Registered. Therefore, at the end of the pre-registration year, you must pass the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s registration exam.
Career Prospects
Newly qualified Pharmacists join the NHS under the supervision of more experienced staff. After this period, Pharmacists often choose to specialise in various areas of pharmacy, e.g. radiopharmacy (preparing radioactive substances for administration to patients, in collaboration with Radiologists). Promotion often means taking on management responsibilities and senior Pharmacists may also supervise the training of pre-registration trainees and junior Pharmacists.
How to apply
Click here to see current NHS Scotland vacancies for registered Pharmacists
Vacancies also appear in national and local newspapers, The Pharmaceutical Journal, Pharmajobs or via locum agencies that handle temporary vacancies.
Applications for degree courses are made through The Universities and Colleges Admission Services.
Scottish Universities offering Pharmacy degree courses:
strong>Pre-registration Positions:
For information on and to apply for pre-registration positions and vacancies within NHS Scotland, please contact NHS Education Scotland:
June Beckett
PA to Director of Pharmacy
Email: June.Beckett@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 0141 223 1600
or
Stephen Peddie
Pharmacy Educational Project Manager
Email: stephen.peddie@nes.scot.nhs.uk
Tel: 0141 223 1543
Further Information
For further information on careers in Pharmacy, please contact
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
