Hospital pharmacists are experts in the field of medicines, how they're used and their effect on the human body. As well as being responsible for dispensing prescriptions, pharmacists are involved in the purchasing and quality testing of medicines. They may also manufacture medicines, as in some cases treatments need to be tailor made for individual patients.
You'll work closely with medical and nursing staff to make sure hospital patients receive the best treatment, advising on the selection, dose and type of administration. You'll also provide help and advice to patients in all aspects of their medicines.
Responsibilities and Duties
- check prescriptions for errors, ensuring they're appropriate and protected for the individual patient
- provide advice on the dosage of medicines and the most appropriate form of medication, which could be by tablet, injection, ointment or inhaler
- participate in ward rounds to take patient drug histories
- liaise with other medical staff on problems patients may experience when taking their medicines
- discuss treatments with patients' relatives, community pharmacists and GPs
- make sure medicines are stored appropriately and securely
- supervise the work of less experienced and less qualified staff
- answer questions about medicines from within the hospital, other hospitals and the general public
- keep up to date with, and contribute to, research and development
- write guidelines for drug use within the hospital and implement hospital regulations
- provide information on expenditure on drugs
- prepare and quality-check sterile medications, for example, intravenous medications
- set up and supervise clinical trials.