Lead Pharmacist - Emergency Department

NHS; Swindon; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Swindon is seeking a Lead Pharmacist for its Emergency Department. The role includes managing pharmacy services, ensuring the safe and effective use of medications, and acting as an operational lead for regulatory compliance. Candidates should possess an MPharm degree, significant post-registration experience, and strong clinical decision-making skills. This position offers a salary of £55,690 to £62,682 per year pro rata.

Qualifications

• Extensive post registration hospital experience at least at band 7.
• Experience supervising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
• Willingness to complete non-medical prescriber training.

Responsibilities

• Manage and deliver a clinical pharmacy service to the emergency department.
• Ensure safe and effective use of medicines.
• Support compliance with Good Distribution Practice.

Skills

Advanced Pharmacy practice

Clinical decision making

Patient safety

Medicines optimisation

Education

MPharm Degree or equivalent

Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy

Management and Leadership Qualification

Job description

Lead Pharmacist - Emergency Department

The closing date is 01 December 2025

The Great Western Hospital is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for a pharmacist to work with us as the lead for pharmacy services to the emergency department. The emergency department at GWH is a state of the art facility opened in 2024.

This is a great opportunity for a pharmacist looking to specialise in emergency medicine.

As a key member of the multi‑disciplinary team you will lead on all aspects of medicines optimisation and pharmaceutical care.

You will be supported by a friendly team and work closely with the lead pharmacist for medicine and specialist pharmacy medicines optimisation technician (ED) to innovate and develop the service.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the management and delivery of a responsive, proactive, patient focused clinical pharmacy service to the emergency department. This includes ensuring the safe, effective and cost‑effective use of medicines. To act as an advanced emergency department pharmacist ensuring the accuracy, legality, safety and efficacy of prescribed medication in line with local and national procedures. To deputise both operationally and professionally for the divisional clinical pharmacy lead, in the management of the clinical Pharmacy service.

To support responsible person and deputies in ensuring that the facilities and service are compliant with all aspects of Good Distribution Practice (EU GDP 2013/C 343/01), and all other relevant medicines regulations and quality standards. To manage related training provision to all operational staff within the facility. To act as an operational lead in any relevant aspects of regulatory audit (internal and external).

About us

Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.

Swindon is set in the South West of England on the edge of the North Wessex Downs. The hospital was built in 2003 and is a modern hospital which provides a pleasant working environment. It is well placed close to junction 15 of the M4 and located allowing commutes to accommodate family members' jobs in cities such as Oxford, Bristol, Bath, Reading, Cheltenham and Gloucester. There are a wealth of attractive villages in the area and good schools including grammar schools within commuting distance. There is a good rail connection to London (1 hour).

Job responsibilities

• 1. Act as an advanced Pharmacy practitioner in the emergency department, to plan the care and identify areas of concern related to medicine use within this specialty.
• 2. To provide a specialist clinical pharmacy service to patients in the emergency department and 'front door' areas in line with clinical pharmacy standards and objectives.
• 3. Assist in clinical decision making to ensure patient safety and medication effectiveness through the medicines optimisation agenda.
• 4. Discussing with patients any issues about their medication, and liaising with other health care professionals in Primary and Secondary Care as appropriate.
• 5. Reviews results of external audit related to patient care and develop action plan as necessary.
• 6. To be/ become an Independent Prescriber (IP) and to continue to develop the role of pharmacist independent prescriber within the Trust.
• 7. Contribute to the strategic development of pharmacy services and lead by example to enhance the Pharmacy Service reputation both at a local and national level.

Education, Qualification and Training

• MPharm Degree or equivalent and GPhC registration
• Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy
• Evidence of CPD
• Non‑medical prescriber or willing to complete training
• RPS credentialled at advanced stage I or II
• Management and Leadership Qualification
• Membership of UKCPA of emergency care group

Experience

• Extensive post registration hospital experience at least at band 7 level or equivalent
• Experience of working across departmental and organisation boundaries to deliver specific targets and improve services for patients
• Significant and relevant clinical experience working in areas linked to Emergency Medicine
• Knowledge of financial systems and structures within the NHS
• Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development
• Experience in supervising pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and students
• Previous experience as a divisional pharmacist
• Experience of managing a team
• Experience working in an ED

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year pro rata per annum