Senior Pharmacy Assistant - Dispensary | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in England is seeking a Pharmacy Assistant to ensure patients receive the best pharmaceutical care. The role involves dispensing prescriptions and supervising trainees within the pharmacy department, requiring previous experience in a pharmacy and NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services. Applicants should be enthusiastic about patient care and may need to work weekends and bank holidays.

Benefits

Access to high-quality training and development

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a hospital or community pharmacy.
• Ability to demonstrate enthusiasm for patient care.
• Experience handling prescriptions and medication dispensing.

Responsibilities

• Dispense prescriptions for patients in the main dispensary.
• Supervise Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians.
• Participate in the weekend and bank holiday shift system.

Skills

Pharmaceutical care

Dispensing experience

Customer service

Education

NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent

Job description

**PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY**

Are you interested in a varied role which has ensuring patients experience the best pharmaceutical care at its heart? We are looking for enthusiastic pharmacy assistants to work as a key part of the pharmacy team within our modern automated, dispensary areas. This role involves activities related to dispensing prescriptions for patients in the main dispensary and stock control, within the Pharmacy Department.

If you are interested in this post, you will need previous experience of working in either a hospital or community pharmacy and have a minimum of NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy services or equivalent.

You must be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for trying new roles and delivering an excellent patient experience.

Bedford Pharmacy operates a 7-day service, and some weekend shifts will be required.

To provide medicine dispensing services within the Pharmacy Dispensary.

To supervise the activity of Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians in the dispensary.

To take part in the late dispensary, weekend and bank holiday shift system.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities.
• To receive prescriptions and other requests into the Main Dispensary or Dispensary Satellites according to the agreed procedures and deal with straightforward problems
• To interpret prescriptions and where necessary, contact a pharmacy technician or pharmacist to clarify prescriptions
• To undertake dispensing tasks under supervision including use of the pharmacy computer system for labelling
• To check and restock the emergency drugs cupboard
• To answer the telephone and resolve problems


This advert closes on Wednesday 6 Aug 2025