Senior Pharmacy Assistant | Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust; Truro; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS hospital trust in the United Kingdom is seeking a skilled pharmacy assistant to join their General Pharmacy team. The role focuses on ensuring patients receive the right medicines and provides opportunities for development. Candidates must have NVQ2 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services. This position offers a chance to contribute significantly to patient care and requires attention to detail and strong communication skills.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in a pharmacy environment is preferred.
• Ability to handle pharmacy computer systems effectively.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Dispense medications for in-patients and out-patients.
• Ensure accuracy during all stages of the dispensing process.
• Maintain accurate records and controls using pharmacy systems.
• Assist in stock supplies to wards and departments.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

NVQ2 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services

Job description

Overview

The General Pharmacy at the Royal Cornwall Hospital is looking to recruit a skilled pharmacy assistant within the dispensary and supply services to ensure our patients receive the right medicines at the right time. This is a key role in our departmental strategy to focus on patient care and experience. This is an exciting development opportunity for the right person who will have the NVQ2 or equivalent in Pharmacy Services.

Dispensary

• To dispense for in-patients, out-patients and patient discharge
• To ensure accuracy of work during all stages of the dispensing process
• To ensure records and controls are correctly maintained using the pharmacy computer system and paper records and by following the Pharmacy Archive procedure
• To relabel patients own drugs for reuse after assessment of suitability in the dispensary
• To perform reception duties including dealing with patient and NHS staff enquiries either face to face or by telephone
• To perform all activities in accordance with training and departmental standard operating procedure
• To perform controlled drug audits

Stock and supplies

• To assist in the Top Up and stock supplies to wards, clinical departments and community clinics when needed
• To perform all activities in accordance with training and departmental standard operating procedures

About the Trust and role context

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people and employ approximately 6,700 staff with a budget of approximately £580 million. We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School. The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non-clinical roles. Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation. Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation. It’s established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence-based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.

Website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schools/royal-cornwall-hospitals-nhs-trust-clinical-school

https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871231209037

Application and employment checks

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side. To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following: Identity Checks; Professional registration and qualification checks; Employment history and reference checks; Occupational Health clearance; Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check; Right to work in the UK. For further information please visit: https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation

We reserve the right to close this advert early. We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

This advert closes on Sunday 21 Sep 2025