General Practice Assistant (GPA) for Medicines Management POD

Penn Hill Surgery; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare practice in Yeovil is seeking a General Practice Assistant (GPA) for Medicines Management. In this role, you will support the prescription process, manage queries, and liaise with patients and medical professionals. Candidates should possess excellent organisational and communication skills, along with a healthcare administration qualification. This is a full-time role, offering a salary of £13.26 to £13.84 per hour. Join a supportive team dedicated to patient care and safety.

Benefits

5 weeks pro rata annual leave

NHS pension scheme membership

Fully funded team parties

Qualifications

• Experience in clerical and administrative work.
• Familiarity with IT systems in health and social care settings.
• Understanding of basic health and social care terminology.

Responsibilities

• Process prescription requests according to surgery protocols.
• Manage new medications and follow-ups from discharges.
• Resolve complex prescription queries from patients and pharmacies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

5 GCEs including English and Maths

Healthcare administration qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

General Practice Assistant (GPA) for Medicines Management POD

This role is jointly contracted with our Primary Care Network (PCN) but is based in the practice. We are looking for a bright, organised, efficient individual with an eye for detail to join our small prescription (POD) team which comprises of a Clinical Pharmacist and GPA Prescription Clerks. Our POD team have their own dedicated office but work closely with all members of the practice team, in particular the Reception team and GPs to ensure all patient queries and requests are dealt with in a timely manner.

We would need you to be able to commit to working either:

a) 8 hours every Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 08:30 to 17:00

or b) 5 hours every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and 9 hours on Fridays

You would act as the focal point of communication between all members of staff, patients, pharmacies and hospitals, to ensure patients' repeat medication is produced within current surgery protocols. You would carry out duties with a positive attitude and approach towards problem solving, and uphold and deliver the values, standards, aims, objectives and expectations of Penn Hill Surgery.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

Process prescriptionrequests in line with the surgery's repeat prescribing protocol.

Manage new medication/addmeds/follow ups from discharges/letters.

Data entry fromdischarges/letters onto patient records (ie weight, height, bloodpressure etc).

Expedite urgentprescriptions to help ensure a safe and responsive service to ourpatients.

Proactively manage andresolve complex prescription queries from patients, pharmacies, hospitals and internal staff.

Perform monthly drugmonitoring using EMIS Web searches and arrange relevant clinical reviews.

Update pharmacies withmedication changes including dosage adjustments and changes to blisterpacks.

Liaise with secondary careproviders to ensure medication changes and discharges are actioned.

Communicate with other practices to obtainmedication summaries for new patients.

Create tasks and assist clinicians in managingdocument workflow relating to prescriptions.

Conduct drug monitoring within limits ofnon-clinical role

Action patient requests fromEMIS Tasks, AskMyGP and email daily.

Scan clinical correspondenceand ensure it is coded and filed appropriately.

Proactively support patientsin understanding repeat medication processes and changes.

About us

We are a close knit, hard working practice within which our POD team sits. We offer 5 weeks pro rata annual leave plus bank holiday entitlement. We also offer the NHS pension scheme membership.

As a practice we have monthly half day closure training to ensure everyone has time for a practice update, team meetings and mandatory training.

We also have a summer and Christmas party every year which is fully funded.

Job responsibilities

JobDescription

Job Title:

for Medicines Management POD

Reporting to:

PracticeManager & Clinical Pharmacist

Location:

PennHill Surgery

Rate of pay:

£13.26 per hour rising to £13.84 per hour upon successful completion of probationary period

Hours of Work:

24 hours per week

Mon, Tues and Friuntil 8.30am to 5.00pm (30 min unpaid break)

Role Summary

As a GPAMedicines Management & Prescribing Administrator, you will play acritical role in supporting the safe and efficient processing of prescriptions,providing a communication hub between patients, pharmacies, GPs, and healthcareprofessionals. You will combine clinical administrative expertise with a customer-focusedapproach to contribute to safe prescribing practices and to the overallperformance of the prescribing team.

This rolerequires a high level of attention to detail, advanced coordination skills, andinitiative to ensure patients medication needs are met promptly and inaccordance with current practice and NHS prescribing protocols.

Key Responsibilities

Process prescriptionrequests in line with the surgery's repeat prescribing protocol.

Manage new medication/addmeds/follow ups from discharges/letters.

Manage the vulnerable andhigh dependency drugs users through a robust protocol.

Data entry fromdischarges/letters onto patient records (ie weight, height, bloodpressure, heart rate etc).

Expedite urgentprescriptions to help ensure a safe and responsive service to ourpatients.

Proactively manage andresolve complex prescription queries from patients, pharmacies, hospitals,and internal staff.

Perform monthly drugmonitoring using EMIS Web searches and arrange relevant clinical reviews.

Maintain and use the PrescriptionTracker to monitor the status of prescriptions.

Update pharmacies withmedication changes including dosage adjustments and changes to blisterpacks.

Support the ClinicalPharmacist in medicines reconciliation and repeat medication reviews.

Liaise with secondary careproviders to ensure medication changes and discharges are actioned.

Communicate with other practices to obtainmedication summaries for new patients.

Liaise with pharmacies on the supply of prescribeddrugs and alert clinical teams of any supply issues and forward on recommendedalternatives.

Work within the Somerset Prescribing Formulary andwork within the recommended cost effective and evidence based choices

Review the Traffic Light system and know whichdrugs need to be prescribed by secondary care and advise clinical team.

Provide an efficient administration service as partof a team to ensure the smooth running of the prescription support to ourclinicians

Create tasks and assist clinicians in managingdocument workflow relating to prescriptions.

Conduct drug monitoring within limits ofnon-clinical role

Action patient requests fromEMIS Tasks, AskMyGP and email daily.

Accurately enter patientinformation into EMIS Web.

Check for outstandingchronic disease reviews and arrange necessary appointments.

Scan clinical correspondenceand ensure it is coded and filed appropriately.

Proactively support patientsin understanding repeat medication processes and changes.

Teamwork

Attend and contribute toprescribing team meetings and cross-departmental discussions.

Suggest improvements toprescribing processes to increase efficiency and safety.

General Duties

Confidentiality

Handle all patient, practiceand partner information in strictest confidence.

Comply with GDPR, DataProtection Act, and NHS confidentiality standards.

Health & Safety

Identify and report healthand safety risks and participate in infection control practices.

Maintain a clean and safeworking environment in all patient and administrative areas.

Quality & Governance

Support quality initiativesincluding audits and CQC compliance.

Participate in personaldevelopment plans and annual reviews.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Promote equality anddiversity in all interactions with staff, patients, and stakeholders.

Challenge discrimination andcontribute to an inclusive work environment.

Communication

Act as a liaison betweeninternal departments and external healthcare professionals.

Tailor communication styleto accommodate patients with diverse needs and backgrounds.

PersonSpecification

Post: General Practice Assistant (GPA)

Qualifications

5 GCEs including English and Maths.

Qualification in health/socialcare or dispensing: Healthcare administration qualification

Knowledge & Skills

Excellent written and verbal communicationskills including ability to listen, to discuss and to inform clearly

Excellent organisational skills andmeticulous with good time management skills

Ability to build strong relationships withcolleagues at all levels

Good degree of accuracy and attention todetail

Ability to work alone andpart of a team and promote a good team spirit

Able to take an overviewand prioritise effectively

Understanding of basichealth and social care terminology

Familiarity with ITsystems currently in use in health and social care settings

Experience

Experience ofclerical and administrative work

Experience ofworking in a GP practice or healthcare environment

Experience andgood understanding of operating Microsoft Office including Word, Power Pointand Excel

Experience andgood working knowledge of patient confidentiality

Experience ofprioritising own workload in a busy working environment

Experience as a Prescription Clerk or GPA -Knowledge of NHS primary care protocols

Personal Qualitiesand Attributes/Other

Ability to cope withmultiple demands

Willingness andability to participate in attending training courses in relation to the role

Positive attitude& self-motivated

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs or equivalent, including Maths and English
• General Practice Assistant (GPA), Pharmacy Technician, Dispenser or Health Care Assistant

£13.26 to £13.84 an hour£13.26 rising to £13.84 upon successful completion of probation