Prescription Clerk

NHS; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Gloucester seeks a Prescription Clerk to join the pharmacist team, providing vital support in managing prescriptions. The role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a strong ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team. This permanent, part-time position offers opportunities for career progression and salary increases.

Qualifications

• GCSE in maths and English, or equivalent required.
• Prior experience as a prescription clerk or in a similar role is desirable.
• Clear and polite telephone manner is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support the pharmacist team with afternoon coverage.
• Understand and process electronic prescriptions.
• Manage prescription queries effectively.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Willingness to undertake training

Ability to follow policy and procedure

Effective time management

Good interpersonal skills

Education

GCSE grade 4/C or above in maths and English

Tools

SystmOne

Office

Outlook

Job description

Overview

Prescription Clerk based in Gloucester to support the afternoon coverage for the pharmacist team. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to primary care with potential career progression and salary increases for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

• Understand the electronic prescribing system within the practice.
• Process repeat prescriptions on a daily basis, ensuring compliance with practice protocols.
• Handle weekly prescriptions for vulnerable patients and manage related queries.
• Support the reception team with medication requests using surgery protocol to signpost to appropriate answers.
• Ensure all prescriptions are signed by a GP, ready for collection within 48 hours from time of request and ready for issue by patient pharmacies.
• Raise awareness of problems and queries regarding repeat prescriptions to the pharmacist and ensure follow-up action to resolve matters.
• Perform regular searches on drugs requiring monitoring to minimise adverse effects; ensure current medications have relevant authorisations.
• Ensure medication reviews are undertaken as required and flag overdue reviews for a prescriber.
• Assist with the coding of medication reviews.
• Promote cost-effective prescribing by switching to generic formulations when appropriate and using local formulary choices.
• Deal with prescription queries from GPs, nurse prescribers, hospital staff, pharmacists, care homes, carers, and reception/administration staff at the practice.
• Manage medication changes from hospital letters, update patient notes, inform patients of changes, and note any monitoring requirements.
• Manage prescriptions for patients on weekly medications in compliance aids.
• Operate in a fast-paced and high-accuracy environment with attention to detail.
• Handle exposure to distressing situations and written material appropriately.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE grade 4/C or above in maths and English, or equivalent (competency testing may be required if not held).

Skills

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Willingness to undertake training and develop competency in SystmOne, Office & Outlook if not already proficient.
• Ability to follow policy and procedure; effective time management; ability to work as part of a team and autonomously; good interpersonal skills.

Desirable

• Competence in using SystmOne, Office and Outlook.

Personal Qualities

• Clear, polite telephone manner; polite and confident; flexible and cooperative.
• Motivated with high integrity and loyalty; empathetic in distressing situations.
• Ability to work under pressure.

Other

• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience

• Desirable: prior experience as a prescription clerk or in a similar role.
• Desirable: prior NHS experience.
• Desirable: prior experience in primary care.

Details

Date posted: 05 November 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £12.69 an hour

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Location: Partners In Health, Stroud Road, Gloucester, GL15JJ; St. James Family Doctor, St. James, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL24WD

Other information

Disability/DBS and safeguarding: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to the DBS will be required.