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Hospital pharmacy training programmes
All training programmes are rotational and depending on the hospital may include experience in all or some of the range of the pharmacy services described below.
Aseptic / Technical Services
Aseptic dispensing is the preparation and supply of sterile medical products which require dilution or other manipulation
before administration. Items include total parenteral nutrition and antibiotics provided in ready-to-use syringes and infusion bags. Cytotoxic reconstitution services ensure compliance with Health and Safety regulations relating to the exposure of staff handling these agents and chemotherapy is supplied to wards in a ready-to-use form. You will be able to develop your aseptic dispensing skills and to assess the suitability of products to
meet the individual patient's needs.
Clinical Pharmacy and Medicines Management
Clinical pharmacists work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to ensure medicines are used safely, effectively and in
a cost-effective manner. They spend time on hospital wards reviewing prescription charts, influencing prescribing,attending medical ward rounds, providing prescribing advice to medical staff and taking comprehensive drug histories. They also counsel patients, answer questions from patients and healthcare professionals and work closely with budget holders and senior clinicians to ensure that NHS resources for medicines are used efficiently.
Clinical Trials
These can be in-house or commercially sponsored studies. Pharmacy departments assist with the sourcing, ordering, storage and dispensing of
investigational products and the production of information for patients about their study medication. Pharmacists are also involved with protocol
development and design necessary documentation such as randomisation schedules and standard operating procedures.
Community Pharmacy Placements
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society recommends hospital pre-registration trainee pharmacists develop an awareness of community pharmacy
practice and where possible a placement in a community pharmacy will be organised. This is an opportunity
to gain a full appreciation of the complete patient experience across primary, secondary and tertiary care boundaries and identify the impact and importance of the pharmacist's role.
Dispensary
Team working is a vital part of the hospital dispensary to ensure work is carried out efficiently. Hospital dispensaries provide services
to inpatients on hospital wards, outpatients attending clinics, patients being discharged from hospital and some are licensed to
sell 'Pharmacy Only' and General Sales List items to staff and the public. Many hospital dispensaries
are managed by a team of pharmacy technicians with assistance from new technology/automation such as dispensing robots.
Pharmacist input is generally limited to clinically checking incoming prescriptions for their accuracy and appropriateness before they are dispensed and they liaise with prescribers and wards where necessary. Counselling is provided to patients by pharmacy staff.
Management
The basics of managing yourself, your time, a project and other people will be covered during the training year.
Medicines Information
Medicines Information services provide evidence-based, unbiased information and advice on medicine usage, to
healthcare professionals and the public. Enquiries include medication identification, stability and formulation, and
medicine use during pregnancy and lactation. Other services provided include evaluation of new medicines for hospital committees, information bulletins for healthcare professionals and formulary management. A national training pack for hospital pre-registration trainee
pharmacists has been developed to supplement the training provided.
Primary Care
Primary Care Pharmacists are involved in medicines and budget management. They develop formularies for
GP practices, promote cost-effective prescribing and provide pharmaceutical advice to GP practices.
Additional services include running clinics for cholesterol and anticoagulant monitoring and reviewing patients
on complex medication regimens.
Procurement and Distribution
This involves developing an understanding of how medicines are purchased and stock is managed in the most cost
effective way and how pharmaceuticals are received and distributed throughout the hospital. Reduced medicines
expenditure occurs due to contracting and negotiation and reduced medicines wastage occurs because stock control
results in less out of date stock. Up to date information about product availability and effective sourcing of products
that are in short supply is also provided.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Part of Clinical Governance includes Quality Assurance of pharmacy services and Quality Control of products to ensure
the required standards are achieved and maintained. Quality control of in-house preparations or raw materials is undertaken
together with Quality Assurance activities such as medical gas testing and environmental monitoring of aseptic suites.
Radiopharmacy
This involves the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals for use in diagnosis and therapy. Products are prepared aseptically in a
specialised environment designed for the handling of radioactive substances. Radiopharmacists provide specialist advice and information.
In summary, a hospital pharmacy preregistration year provides a variety of activities and experiences that enable you
to develop your professional, technical, communication, interpersonal and management skills in preparation for your
career in pharmacy.
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