Job responsibilities
Provide a Medicines Management service to designated ward areas, which involves following relevant Medicines Management procedures to deliver the service in a safe and effective manner.
Assess the suitability of patients own drugs for use when brought into the trust. ie-: Correct drug and directions on label, expiry date and storage conditions, re-labelling if necessary and gaining patient consent for the use or destruction of medication brought into hospital.
Initiate supply of non-stock items for one-stop dispensing ie-: ordering medication labelled ready for discharge when appropriate and ensure that sufficient supplies of medication are available for each patient for their inpatient stay and comply with discharge arrangements.
Check for prescribing errors within the limits compatible with technician training and competence using own knowledge and relevant supporting literature bringing any discrepancies to the attention of a Pharmacist.
Be an accredited accuracy checking technician participating in the dispensing and final accuracy checking of prescriptions and dispensed medication at ward level and within the in-patient and out-patient dispensaries
Co-ordinate and plan the discharge medication, bringing together patients own drugs and newly dispensed items, discharge times and intervention data.
Respond promptly to any request via phone or bleep relating to patients discharge to ensure a rapid and safe discharge is facilitated.
Participate in dispensing systems at ward level through dispensing of pre-packs at ward level to ensure that there is no delay in a patient receiving their medicines.
To manage own workload at ward level by prioritising urgent discharge prescriptions, non-stock items and resupplies of medication
Provide advice, instruction, and counselling for patients/parents/carers regarding the use of the patients medications. Explain complex regimes ensuring patients/parents/carers understand their medication regimes including benefits of their medicines and possible side effects. There may be certain barriers to understanding, of a sensitive and/ or complex nature that will require resolution
To liaise with members of multidisciplinary teams to effectively deliver patient-focused pharmacy services. This may include discharge planning, requesting changes to prescriptions, further supply of medications in Primary care, repeat prescriptions, homecare, discussing concerns about patient compliance or future problems.
Participate in the ordering and supply of stock medicines to all wards. This includes the periodic review of stock par levels and assessment of ward stock profiles, medication expiry dates and storage conditions.
Completing medicine reconciliation records for patients on wards, ensuring they are completed in accordance with departmental competencies. This often involves problem solving, communicating with patients, GPs and health care professionals within the hospital and community pharmacies to ensure correct and accurate information regarding a patients medication history.
Actively gather medication information from EPMA system and patients previous medical notes, Hospital transfer records and outpatient letters, at ward level with regards to building up a comprehensive medication history.
To participate in the completion of incident reporting/pharmacy medication error forms when errors are detected either at ward level or in the pharmacy department.
Deliver and participate in the training of medical, nursing and pharmacy staff regarding the medicines management service on wards and departments. Including hands on training, PowerPoint presentations and guidance, as appropriate
Support and participate in the competency assessment programmes for medicines management staff
Participate in and contribute to the development and extension of the near patient medicines management scheme across all wards in the Trust
Assist and carry out departmental audits for medicines management, identifying any improvements or developments required such as, trolley maintenance audit, medicines storage/safety audit and the control drug audit plus any future audits that become available.
Ensure that adequate systems are in place to record all drug interventions and medication errors are identified at ward level. To carry out and monitor the dispensing and issuing of prescriptions, including in-patients, outpatients, discharge, unlicensed and controlled drugs in accordance with the safe systems of work procedures within the department.
To carry out the final accuracy check of clinically screened complex paediatric prescriptions dispensed by others in accordance with safe systems of work practice ensuring the maintenance of records and information.
To use the pharmacy computer system to dispense and label medicines, including the dispensing of complex prescriptions e.g. Oncology, Renal and Haematology, produce stock reports, extemporaneous worksheets and audit trails in accordance with the level of training provided.
To supervise the maintenance of stock control systems within the dispensary dealing with any discrepancies, reporting these and action taken to the Chief Pharmacy Technician Patient Services.
To assist in the provision of service quality and cost effectiveness of medicines identifying any improvements to senior pharmacy staff.
To organise and supervise the day-to-day workload and problems that may arise within the designated area of work ensuring the implementation of department rotas and planning and referring any issues to relevant senior pharmacy staff.
To support the training of pharmacy technicians, Pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants in accordance with departmental training packages
To participate in the assembly and preparation of extemporaneous products demonstrating Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practice and adhering to Health and Safety and COSHH requirements. This will include the manufacture of non-sterile cytotoxics.
To dispense clinical trials in accordance with the dispensing protocol, ensuring the maintenance of records and information.
To accurately carry out formula and measurement checks on extemporaneous products following set procedures to ensure quality and safety standards are met.
To co-ordinate the replacement of and accurately check the dispensing of the Hospital Emergency Drug Boxes to ensure a safe and effective service.
To carry out label checks for Accident and Emergency out of hour dispensing packs, ensuring information is clear and correct and that item is labelled appropriately.
To produce formula worksheets for extemporaneous products using the pharmacy computer systems.
To assist pharmacists in the formulation of extemporaneous products evaluating methods, practicality and requirements of manufacture.
To check for prescribing errors within the limits compatible with technician training using knowledge and relevant supporting literature such as Medicines for Children and the BNF, and using tact, discuss any discrepancies with prescribers referring any problems to a pharmacist
To answer queries of a complex technical nature from a wide range of staff groups, either in the pharmacy or on the ward. To answer queries from the public referring appropriate queries to a senior member of the pharmacy team.
To undertake patient counselling, providing clear and concise information to patients/carers regarding the safe and effective use of their medication to ensure understanding and compliance. This will include providing information of a more complex nature and providing demonstrations where applicable, both in the dispensary and on the wards.
To liaise with various members of the pharmacy team and ward staff when solving supply and drug related problems and ensuring best service to patients.
To communicate and relay complex information to other healthcare professionals under the guidance of a pharmacist or Chief Technician
To participate on a rotational basis in the ordering and supply of pharmaceuticals to all wards including the Critical Care Unit. This includes the review and assessment of ward stock levels and prescribed in-patient medications, expiry dates and storage of pharmaceuticals.
To assist in the maintenance of the automated drug storage systems on the wards ensuring the required checks and audits are completed to allow KPIs to be met in appropriate timescales.
To follow up any outstanding medicines owed to patients or wards on a daily basis, liaising and informing individuals on availability and collection.
To carry out random checks of ward controlled drugs ensuring correct storage, security and that any discrepancies of stock levels are reported to Ward Manager and Chief Technician Patient Services
To act as a role model for student pharmacy technicians and other members of the technical and support staff team, promoting a good professional image.
To supervise student pharmacy technicians, pharmacy technicians, Pre-registration pharmacists and pharmacy assistants within the Pharmacy when manufacturing extemporaneous medicines providing expert advice and guidance.
To contribute to department policies and procedures, conveying ideas and suggestions of changes and service improvements
To be authorised to write off any out of date or damaged stock up to a value of £50 at any one time.
To keep up-to date with current pharmacy practice by attending appropriate in-house tutorials or training courses for technicians.
To undertake Continuing Professional Development in order to keep pharmaceutical clinical and technical knowledge current, ensure best practice and comply with requirements for entry on the pharmacy technician register.
To participate in and carry out detailed department projects and audits under the direction of Chief Technician Patient Services or Senior Technician.
