Pharmacy

Overview

The pharmacy department at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust provides a comprehensive range of pharmacy services.

The pharmacy department comprises the following services:

• Clinical Pharmacy
• Dispensary
• Chemotherapy Dispensing
• Education and Training
• Formulary and Medicines Management
• Medicines Information
• Procurement and Distribution

We are committed to delivering a high quality patient-focused service to all our patients and aim to ensure the safe, timely and effective use of medicines.  To help achieve this, the department is involved in many training programmes, to allow staff to develop into their chosen profession.

We regularly employ Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacists, Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians and trainee Assistants at Darent Valley Hospital and are proud of our reputation in providing an excellent training experience. All trainees have access to Mentors, Practice supervisors and Educational supervisors within the department.

As you can imagine there are many roles within the Pharmacy Department, but this list will give you a general understanding of the roles within the Pharmacy Department and the training/teaching that is undertaken.

Pharmacist

A Pharmacist is responsible for ensuring the quality of medicines supplied to a patient and that the supply of medicines is within the law.  They ensure that the medicines prescribed to a patient are suitable for use, by undertaking a clinical check. A clinical check involves ensuring the prescription is legal, legible, safe, clinically appropriate and compliant with the Trust formulary.  They also advise patients abut medicines, including how to take them, what reactions may occur and answering patients’ questions.

Pharmacists will often have overall responsibilities/manage a specific service or area within Pharmacy.

Pharmacists must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to practise in the UK.

Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacist Training

Over a 1 year period trainees will meet the requirements of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) pre-registration training scheme.  Trainees will undertake a rotational competency based training programme to achieve underpinning knowledge and opportunities to meet the GPhC pre-registration training performance standards. 

Towards the end of the training year, trainees will sit their final exam, encompassing all their knowledge from 4 years at university and their work based pre-registration year.  Successful completion of all elements of the training will allow registration with the GPhC as a Registered Pharmacist.

Registered Pharmacist Training

The department is also committed in the Continuing Professional Development of all qualified staff.  This includes:

• Postgraduate Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice (PG Dip GPP) 
• Independent/supplementary prescribing programme for Senior Pharmacists.

Both of these courses are completed with local universities.

Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy Technicians work closely with the Pharmacists ensuring an efficient and effective service is provided.  They are often the first member of the Pharmacy team who a patient will see when they are admitted to hospital.  The technician will undertake a full drug history from the patient, this involves having a discussion with the patient about any current medication they are taking.  They will also give information and advice to patients.  Pharmacy Technicians also dispense medications and manufacture and prepare medicines, including chemotherapy. 

Once trained a Pharmacy Technician can accuracy check prescriptions that have been clinically screened by a Pharmacist.

Pharmacy Technicians must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to practise in the UK.

Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician Training

Over a 2 year period trainees will complete the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Apprenticeship with a GPhC accredited training provider.  

To become a Registered Pharmacy Technician, trainees must be able to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the Level 3 Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Apprenticeship standards, which can be found here

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/pharmacy-technician-(integrated)-v1-0

The Pre-registration training programme allows trainees the chance to apply the academic knowledge in a real-life situation.  The aim is for the trainee to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to practice to the expected standards of a Registered Pharmacy Technician, and in a way that delivers the best outcome for our patients and service users.

Registered Pharmacy Technician Training

The department is also committed in the Continuing Professional Development of all qualified staff.  This includes:

• Nationally recognised accreditations in their line of work, provided by Pharmacy specific training providers.

Pharmacy Assistants

Pharmacy Assistants work closely with the Technicians ensuring an efficient and effective service is provided.  Pharmacy Assistants dispense medication, manufacture and prepare medicines, including chemotherapy, receive medication orders from drug companies and issue routine medications to the wards.

Pharmacy Assistants must have or be working towards a Level 2 Pharmacy qualification to work in the UK.

Pharmacy Assistant Training

Over a 15-18 month period Assistants will complete the Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprenticeship programme with a GPhC accredited training provider.  

As a Pharmacy Assistant you must be able to demonstrate that they have the knowledge, skills and behaviours identified in the Pharmacy Services Assistant Apprenticeship standards, which can be found here

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/pharmacy-services-assistant/

The apprenticeship programme allows assistants the chance to apply their knowledge in a real-life situation.  The aim is to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours you require to practice to the expected standards of a Pharmacy Assistant, and in a way that delivers the best outcome for our patients and service users.

Qualified Pharmacy Assistants

The department is also committed in the Continuing Professional Development of all qualified staff.  This includes:

• Nationally recognised accreditations in their line of work, provided by Pharmacy specific training providers.

Summer Student Programme

Our department also offers a Summer Student Programme. This programme is offered to Pharmacy (MPharm) undergraduates in their 3^rd year of study and it allows the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.  Each Placement is between 3 and 4 weeks long and will give a broad introduction to hospital pharmacy, it will also involve the completion of a Pharmacy based project.

To apply for a placement you must follow the instructions on the HEE London and South East Pharmacy website (https://www.lasepharmacy.hee.nhs.uk/)

Other teaching

In addition to the continued teaching of our own departmental staff, the Pharmacy Department is also involved in the teaching of other healthcare staff.  This includes teaching to Doctors and Nurses on a range of pharmacy and medicine related subjects.

Continuing Professional Development Portfolio

All Registered staff are required to maintain a CPD portfolio in line with GPhC requirements.