Paul Abbey

Pharmacy Career opportunities in the NHS

Pharmacy jobs are in no short supply; in fact it may be one of the few industries where the supply outweighs the demand.

A commitment to training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all staff

Hospital pharmacy provides continuing training throughout your pharmacy career. All hospital pharmacies are committed to CPD for all staff and are required to demonstrate how this is achieved.

Most newly qualified hospital pharmacists study for postgraduate certificates or diplomas in Clinical Pharmacy / Pharmacy Practice. All pharmacists undertake a wide range of training to support them in their chosen speciality or career path. Training opportunities include in-house training provided by the pharmacy department or hospital, regionally or nationally organised study days or courses covering specific issues, initial speciality training and management training - the possibilities are endless!

Newly qualified hospital pharmacists usually rotate through a variety of pharmacy career services similar to those experienced during pre-registration training. This diversity of practice will continue to develop your skills and experience as fully as possible before you decide on a specific area of practice in which to specialise.

Pharmacy Career options

The depth and breadth of training undertaken in hospital pharmacy provides an ideal springboard for all possible pharmacy career options. These might include becoming a Hospital Pharmacy Consultant or supplementary or independent prescriber, working within a Primary Care Trust as a Prescribing Adviser, or in a Strategic Health Authority involved in workforce planning, or in pharmacy or NHS management. General hospital management outside pharmacy offers varied opportunities such as performance and quality management.

If you choose to practise in a different sector of pharmacy, in industry or research, or choose a more unusual pathway such as medical journalism or marketing, hospital pre-registration training will provide you with excellent experience and will develop many of the skills you will require.

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