Pharmacy Technician 

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Pharmacy Technicians are senior members of the pharmacy team who manage and prepare the supply of medicines and give advice to patients and customers. You could manage the pharmacy department, be involved in taking medicine histories from patients and reviewing medicines, counselling, and giving advice on different treatment options. You'll provide a link between wards, patients and the pharmacy.

A day in the life

The work of a pharmacy technician includes:

• taking in and handing out prescriptions
• dispensing prescriptions
• using computer systems to generate stock lists and labels
• ordering items
• receiving, loading, unloading deliveries
• delivering medicines to other parts of a hospital or health centre
• selling over-the-counter medicines
• answering customers questions face to face or by phone
• pre-packing, assembling and labelling medicines
• preparing medicines
• referring problems or queries to the pharmacist

 

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Your development

Training to become a pharmacy technician usually takes two years. It combines practical work experience with study, either at college or by distance learning. Courses cover:

•  human physiology
• disease management
• actions and uses of medicine pharmacy manufacturing
• pharmacy law

 

Level 3 apprenticeships for pharmacy technicians are available with some employers. Registered pharmacy technicians have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual continuing professional development (CPD). 

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For more information regarding joining our team, please submit a form through the ‘Contact us’ page or contact the Human Resources team, who are more than happy to help, on 02392 286577 or email hr.inbox@porthosp.nhs.uk.

 

 

 

My story

Thomas Kelly

Principal Pharmacy Technician - Homecare Lead 

What made you become a Pharmacy Technician? - I was working as a Pharmacy support worker for a few years when the opportunity to train as a technician became available. Having seen what great work my colleagues were doing within that role I thought it would be an interesting and rewarding job to do.

How did you become a Principal Pharmacy Technician? - I had been working as a technician for a few years gaining experience in different roles within the dept, when this role was advertised. With my previous experience and willingness to take on the challenge of running the team I thought I was ready to take the next step in my career

What do you do on a day to day basis? - My main role is to manage the day to day running of the Pharmacy Homecare team. The team’s role is to continue the supply of hospital prescribed medicines directly to the patient’s home or other appropriate location. We work alongside a wide variety of clinical teams within the hospital and several Homecare companies to ensure the supply chain continues. We look after around 6000 patients with a range of medical conditions.  I also spend time supporting the wider Pharmacy team when necessary.

Why did you choose PHU? - Working within the NHS is rewarding and I’m proud to be from Portsmouth so working at your local hospital gives me a sense of pride that I’m helping, in some small way, my local community

What do you enjoy about being a Pharmacy Homecare Technician? - I enjoy running a successful team that makes a difference. I enjoy the amount of different people I get to work alongside and interact with. I enjoy the level of responsibility the department have given me and the chance to make decisions that benefit our patients. I know myself and the team make a difference to people in the local community.

Career plans and advice for others - I hope to continue the success of the Pharmacy Homecare team and work alongside a wider range of clinical teams a give more patients the chance for their medication to be offered via the Homecare Service. I hope to progress further within the Pharmacy dept and take what I’ve learnt in this role and carry on developing. Advice for others: Work hard, show willingness to learn and take on different opportunities. Do your job well, show you have pride in what you do. But most important is to find a job you enjoy, that could be because of the type of role you do, the people you work along side or the people you get to meet every day, hopefully its all of the above.

 

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