Job Description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated pharmacist to join our dynamic and busy Medicines Information (MI) Centre at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. This is an excellent opportunity for a pharmacist wishing to develop their medicines information knowledge and skills within a supportive environment.



The post is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich and involves delivering a broad range of local and regional MI services. Our centre is one of only two MI centres in South East London and plays a key role in promoting the safe, effective, and evidence-based use of medicines.



About You

The ideal candidate will:

Have a minimum of 2.5 years' post-registration experience in a hospital pharmacy setting. Hold a postgraduate qualification in pharmacy (or be working towards one). Demonstrate strong clinical and communication skills. Be committed to personal development and contributing to service improvement.

Main Duties of the Job

As a Medicines Information Pharmacist, you will:

Provide an enquiry answering service for healthcare professionals and patients across the Trust, responding to a range of queries from complex clinical issues to medicines optimisation and safety concerns. Support the day-to-day running of the MI Centre and deputise for the Lead Pharmacist in their absence. Contribute to the delivery of structured training in MI to pre-registration trainees and junior pharmacists. Maintain a regular clinical pharmacy commitment on a designated ward. Support patient safety, cost-effective prescribing, and adherence to best practice through evidence-based advice and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:



Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development



Widening access (anchor institution) and employability



Improving the experience of staff with disability



Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development



Making equalities mainstream

Job Summary:

1. To support and deputise for the Lead Pharmacist Medicines Information



2. To provide systematic training in MI skills to pre-registration students and junior staff rotating through MI



3. To participate in the enquiry answering service at LGT and training of staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.



4. To provide a high quality, evidence-based clinical pharmacy service



5. To assist in the training of pharmacy staff, nursing and medical staff



6. To support the Principal Pharmacist Medication Safety & Governance in the in investigation and management of medication incidents



7. To support the Lead Pharmacist Formulary in the management of formulary issues within the Trust



Duties and Responsibilities



Leadership & Service Development



1. To deputise for the Lead MI pharmacist



2. To apply professional expertise and judgment to the receiving and answering of enquiries regarding drug therapy from professionals and the public within primary and secondary care to ensure advice given is evidence based, timely, accurate, unbiased and evaluated.



3. To attend, in the absence of the Lead MI pharmacist, relevant regional and national MI meetings



4. Maintain and use UKMI recommended medicines information resources, including the use of MI Databank.



5. Maintain appropriate enquiry records and workload statistics using MI Databank.



6. To supervise junior staff in medicines information providing advice and facilitation as required.



7. To maintain standards of service as part of the national medicines information network as per UKMI workbook.



8. Participate in quality assurance of the medicines information service by regular audit of the standards of enquiry answering



9. To contribute to risk management and clinical governance issues



10. To assist with production of drug evaluations for the Medicines Management Committee as requested by the Lead Pharmacist Formulary.



Clinical Services & Patient Care



1. To be responsible for the provision of a clinical pharmacy service to a specified area



2. To perform medication reconciliation, screen prescriptions and provide advice on the management of medicines to healthcare professionals and patients.



3. To influence prescribers appropriately to promote good prescribing practice and medicines management to enhance the quality of patient care.



4. To provide specialist advice and recommendations to other healthcare staff on matters related to the use of medicines.



5. To participate in Consultant or Specialist Nurse-led ward rounds when required



6. To demonstrate expert clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge required to produce clinical and technological documentation in an accurate, concise and timely manner.



7. To interpret complex drug and patient information and make decisions with limited information



8. To demonstrate advanced level of clinical reasoning and judgment



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9. To demonstrate professional accountability to all patients.



10. To contribute to the development of clinical guidelines.



11. To follow legal, ethical, professional and employers codes of conduct.



Risk Management & Governance



1. To contribute to improving the reporting of adverse drug events and medication incidents within the Trust in conjunction with other healthcare professionals.



2. To support the investigation of medication related safety incidents and formulation/delivery of actions plans across the Trust to address problems identified where appropriate



3. To promote effective prescribing in the Trust following formulary and NICE guidance



4. To contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to improve safe medicines use in high risk areas throughout the Trust.



5. To promote the adherence to Trust policies, guidelines and protocol



6. To demonstrate awareness and commitment to the Trust's Clinical Governance Agenda



7. To identify new prescribing practices that may impact on the drug budget (horizon scanning).