Healthcare Science Careers

Pharmacy

Pharmacy Team

• Pharmacists• Pharmacy Technicians• Dispensers• Pharmacy Assistants• Trainees

Pharmacist• Healthcare professional• Experts in medicine

• Dispensing• Advising • Prescribing

• Diagnostic testing• Diabetes• Asthma• Blood pressure

• Clinics • Stop smoking• Weight reduction

Hospital Pharmacist• Dispensary• Medicines information• Wards• Manufacturing• Clinics • Specialist Clinical Pharmacist• Prescribing Pharmacist

Careers for Pharmacists

Other options

• Community• Primary Care• Government and Regulatory • Industry • Academic• Locum• Veterinary and Armed Forces

Careers for Pharmacists

• GCSE in maths, English language and double science

• A-B grade A-levels in chemistry and two further A-levels in either biology, mathematics, or physics. You may also be considered with Chemistry, Biology and an alternative third subject.

• GPhC link to universities offering degrees in pharmacy: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/education/pharmacist/accredited-mpharm-degrees

Qualifications

Practising Pharmacy• 4 year Master of Pharmacy degree (MPharm)

• 1 year pre-registration training in community or hospital pharmacy

• GPhC registration exam

• Good communication skills

Next Steps• A levels choices

• Schools of Pharmacy websites

• Contact your local community or hospital pharmacy for work experienceLink to GHNHSFT pharmacy work experience information: http://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/en/Work-for-Us/Work-Experience/Students-in-School-Years-101112/Pharmacy/

• Healthcare professional • Dispenses, prepares, supplies & issues

medicines• Dispensing accuracy checking• Medicines management• Management• QCF assessor

Pharmacy Technician

Entry Requirements and Qualities

• Minimum of 4 GCSEs grade C & above (Maths, English, 1 science subject & one other)

• Good communication skills

• IT Literate

• Accurate with attention to detail

How to become a Pharmacy Technician

How to become a Pharmacy Technician

Preregistration Trainee Pharmacy Technician

•Hospital – 2 year training programmes (apprenticeship)

•Community Pharmacies

•Employers provide practical training to achieveLevel 3 Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (QCF)

and support for accredited underpinning knowledge e.g. BTEC Level 3 in Pharmaceutical Science

Hospital Pharmacy

•Dispensing

•Manufacturing of products including chemotherapy

•Purchasing of medicines

•Quality control of manufactured medicines

•Providing medicines information to healthcare professionals & the public

•Medicines Management on hospital wards

•Training, supervising & assessing junior staff & trainees.

•Dispensing & Managing the supply of Clinical Trial Medicines

Where can a Pharmacy Technician Work?

Community pharmacy

•Dispensing prescriptions

•Providing information & advice to patients on how to use medication

•Advice about over the counter medications for minor ailments

•Maintaining individual records of prescriptions using pharmacy computer systems

•Training, supervising & assessing junior staff & trainees

•Stock procurement and control

Where can a Pharmacy Technician Work?

Other Options

• Armed Forces • Prison Service • Mental Health Units• Pharmaceutical Industry• Primary Care – GP practices

Where can a Pharmacy Technician Work?

Pharmacy Assistant (ATO)

Entry Requirements and Qualities•Basic Numeracy, Literacy and IT skills,

•Good communication skills

•Accurate with attention to detail

Need to achieve•NVQ level 2 in units relevant to job role

•Underpinning knowledge and experience provided by employer

Pharmacy Assistant (ATO)

Roles Include

•Working under the supervision of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians:

• Stock control and supply to wards and departments• Dispensing• Manufacturing

Could start as an ATO and progress to Trainee Preregistration Pharmacy Technician if fulfil entry requirements.

• RPS careers: www.rpharms.com/careers

• NHS careers: www.nhscareers.nhs.gov.uk

• British Pharmaceutical Student’s Association (BPSA): www.bpsa.co.uk

• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC):

https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/

• Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK): www.aptuk.org

• GHNHSFT pharmacy work experience information:

http://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/en/Work-for-Us/Work-Experience/Students-in-School-Years-101112/Pharmacy/

Further Information

Any questions?