Pharmacy Technician (Primary Care)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Quality of prescribing

Support the practice pharmacists with Medication review for all patients on repeat medication and maintenance of the medication review system.

Review list of medicines for newly registered patients and add to their medication record as appropriate and ensure patients are entered into any monitoring systems, medication review dates added.

Ensure annual monitoring tests are performed and reviewed where appropriate, e.g., ACE-I/A2RA, amiodarone, digoxin, lipid lowering drugs, warfarin, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, antidepressants.

Provide medicines reconciliation following discharge from hospital. Review discharge information and update patients repeat medication list as necessary.

Support the practice to improve prescribing quality and performance against national and local targets.

Support the provision of prescribing advice to prescribers and clinical staff in the practice regarding changes in drug safety information, discontinued products, changes in licensing etc.

Cost-effective use of medicines

Support the implementation of QIPP switches that have been agreed.

Support the practice to achieve QOF. Involvement in QOF areas as requested by the practice where medications are concerned

Support patients with good Medicines Use, e.g., inhaler technique, use of glucometers.

Implement and support Repeat Dispensing.

Liaise with local community pharmacists and act as a point of contact (alongside our Medicines Management Co-ordinator) regarding any prescription queries, amendments, or appropriate switches for out-of-stock medicines.

Liaise with local care homes regarding medication requests and queries.

Act as a point of contact for prescribers and pharmacies for patients using monitored dosage systems and repeat dispensing relating to any changes in drug treatment.

Review out-patient letters which include changes to drug treatment and make changes to patients repeat medication list as appropriate (or query prescribing if not in accordance with Formulary)

Review out-patient discharge recommendations and issue prescriptions as requested.

Report any secondary care recommendations to prescribe non-formulary or red drugs to the local MM team.

Support queries from reception staff regarding patients making unusual requests for past medication, overuse of medication and refer to GP as necessary.

Assist with prescribing audits arising from safety concerns or good prescribing practice.

Medicines Optimisation

Provide information and guidance to patients to improve adherence with medicines taking.

Promote and support the use of shared decision making.

Monitor use of drugs for patients who may be overusing or misusing drugs and alert prescribers as necessary.

Respond to queries from GPs and other clinical staff and contact patients where necessary.

Respond to queries from receptionists regarding any medicine-related matters and contact patients where necessary.

Develop communication systems to ensure effective dissemination of information within the practice.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential data
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, (both written and verbal) including dealing with patients and carers
• Ability to plan and work independently and manage competing priorities
• Ongoing commitment to CPD to maintain theoretical and practical knowledge
• Motivated
• Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft products
• Ability to prepare and present reports.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Recognised qualification in pharmaceutical sciences (BTEC/NVQ3 or equivalent) plus specialist training and experience to degree level or equivalent

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in general practice
• Experience of using EMIS

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Withnell Health Centre

Address

Whittle Surgery

239 Preston Road

Clayton-le-woods

Chorley

Lancashire

PR6 7PY

Employer's website

https://www.withnellhc.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)