Pharmacy Assistant | North Bristol NHS Trust

North Bristol NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A major NHS organization in Bristol is seeking a candidate for their Pharmacy Distribution team. The role involves managing stock replenishments, ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures, and effectively communicating with various hospital staff. Ideal candidates will have a positive attitude and be able to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environment. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to important health services while advancing in a supportive role.

Qualifications

• Positive attitude and ability to work accurately under pressure.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic hospital environment.
• Must work within Standard Operating Procedures.

Responsibilities

• Complete stock checks at ward level against agreed stock lists.
• Monitor expiry dates of medication using the digital database.
• Process and pick orders for stock medication.
• Ensure safe and secure transportation of medication.

Skills

Effective communication

Ability to work independently

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Pharmacy Distribution is a growing team within the Pharmacy Supply Services family!

The ideal candidate will be able to work well independently whilst moving around the hospital to complete ward stock replenishments and work well as part of the team, to achieve the daily workload. This often means getting a lot of steps in each day and managing changing priorities in the hospital environment with good communication!

Distribution is a friendly team, and the successful candidate will be supported by the Distribution Supervisors, Inventory Manager, and the Distribution Lead in learning the role, and achieving the required training for progression to the Band 3 post.

The successful candidate must also be able to work within the department's Standard Operating Procedures and other legal frameworks in place to ensure the safe and secure supply of medication. This includes working within the realms of our Wholesale Dealing Authorisation- WDA(h), and meeting the requirements of Good Distribution Practice (UK GDP). Sometimes the team is required to support other teams such as Pharmacy Stores when needed.

This role is ideal for candidates with a positive attitude and the ability to work accurately under pressure whilst adapting to the dynamic hospital environment!

Responsibilities

• Complete stock checks at ward level against agreed stock lists, ordering required medication against stock levels defined on our Pharmacy IT system.
• Monitor expiry dates of medication at ward level utilising the Microsoft Excel digital database.
• Process and pick orders for stock medication from the requesting app against agreed stock lists and stock levels.
• Check requests against our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ward stock in line with the requirements of Good Distribution Practice (UK GDP) for both NBT and non-NBT entities.
• Order, put away, and monitor IV Fluids supplied by our offsite fluid warehouse.
• Deliver medication to the required areas across the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) site using trolleys and cages as required.
• To ensure prompt, safe, and secure transportation of medication to areas of North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), offsite NBT entities, and non-NBT entities. This includes cold chain products, scheduled orders, and cytotoxic or hazardous substances.
• Communicate efficiently with a wide range of other members of North Bristol NHS Trust, including Pharmacy and ward staff, alongside non-NBT units. This includes dealing with routine service enquiries from the Pharmacy Distribution inbox and telephone, and elevate when medication is needed urgently.
• Any other duties, which may be required by the Director of Pharmacy for the benefit of the service. This may include potentially changing at short notice to help another team within Pharmacy.

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialties. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

The successful candidate will need to support the Distribution team as a positive and motivated team player, with an open mind to the development of the Distribution service, including the supply of medication to non-NBT entities under our Wholesale Dealing Authorisation- WDA (h) and in line with the requirements of Good Distribution Practice (GDP).

The candidate must also be able to communicate effectively with a range of professionals, both internally and externally. Additionally the individual must use their initiative to complete the most urgent tasks, with an awareness of when to refer to a line manager.

This advert closes on Tuesday 30 Dec 2025