248982 (MG) Lead Pharmacist - Acute and General Medicine

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Western General Hospital

Band 8A | 1.0 WTE | 36 hours

£62,681 - £67,665 per annum

(with weekend and public holiday working)

Are you a dynamic pharmacist keen to apply your excellent clinical knowledge and skills in a highly patient focused area? Are you searching for a role that will challenge, inspire, and reward you every day?

This position offers the opportunity to lead the Pharmacy service in the Acute & General Medicine and Same Day Emergency Care Service at the WGH. This is a new post which is being funding to support an expansion of the Pharmacist role within the unscheduled care setting.

About the Role

The main duties of this role, in addition to some regular technical and teaching commitments include:

• Lead the expansion of pharmacy services within the SDEC unscheduled care area. This will include independently reviewing and managing patients, while working within a highly supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Support with the day-to-day leadership to the Acute/General Medicine Pharmacy team.
• Continue the delivery of sustainable models using the skill mix of the Acute/General Medicine Pharmacy team to ensure patients receive their medicines safely.
• Provide advanced clinical pharmacy input into the treatment of patients at the MAU/General Medical Wards through ward rounds and clinical MDT meetings.
• Collaborate closely with a highly supportive multidisciplinary teams to deliver service development and quality improvement initiatives in the directorate.
• Participate in the WGH Emergency Access group which reviews unscheduled care performance and collaborate with the wider site team to ensure site priorities are delivered.
• Participate in cross-site collaborative clinical groups for Acute/General Medicine to share best practice

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to experience a dynamic and forward-thinking pharmacy service which is embedded within the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to daily ward rounds.

Whether you're looking to expand your leadership skills through line management or take on the challenge of leading a larger service that spans both inpatient and outpatient settings, this role provides the platform to do so.

You’ll have the chance to work on:

• Service development projects aimed at improving patient care and modernising service delivery. A wide variety of clinical experiences including exposure to a fast-paced clinical environment, optimising pharmaceutical care across the scheduled and unscheduled care pathways.

About you

To excel in this role, you will need:

Essential Qualifications and Competencies

• A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• An Independent Prescribing Qualification.
• Candidates who have not completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy must demonstrate substantial progress across the four pillars of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum through:Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced CurriculumActive participation in a community of practice/peer networkSubmit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
• Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
• Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
• Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
• Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
• Candidates who have completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy should complete the learning needs analysis (LNA) using the LNA tool in the RPS e-portfolio, identifying any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans.

• Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
• Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
• Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
• Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven expertise in service development, including the design and implementation of healthcare initiatives.
• A strong background in training and education, with experience delivering impactful sessions for healthcare professionals.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, enabling effective decision-making.

About NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian is the second-largest health system in Scotland, covering Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian. Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is driven by a commitment to clinically led, person-centred care, ensuring every patient benefits from safe, effective, and efficient pharmaceutical services. We foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional development, making NHS Lothian an exciting place to work and grow your career.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. We warmly encourage you to get in touch with the hiring manager. This is a great chance to have an informal discussion, ask questions, and explore how this role aligns with your career goals. Requests for Compressed hours working pattern will be considered.

Reach out to:

Laura Kirkpatrick, Acting Lead Clinical Pharmacist WGH, email: laura.kirkpatrick@nhs.scot or bleep 8626 via switchboard 0131 5371000

or

Jin Hah, Site Lead Pharmacist WGH/SCAN, email: jinwerne.hah@nhs.scot or telephone 0131 537 1206

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

As from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

The email address you provide will be used for notifications. Please check your Junk and Spam inboxes as notifications may go directly to these.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Western General Hospital

Band 8A | 1.0 WTE | 36 hours

£62,681 - £67,665 per annum

(with weekend and public holiday working)

Are you a dynamic pharmacist keen to apply your excellent clinical knowledge and skills in a highly patient focused area? Are you searching for a role that will challenge, inspire, and reward you every day?

This position offers the opportunity to lead the Pharmacy service in the Acute & General Medicine and Same Day Emergency Care Service at the WGH. This is a new post which is being funding to support an expansion of the Pharmacist role within the unscheduled care setting.

About the Role

The main duties of this role, in addition to some regular technical and teaching commitments include:

• Lead the expansion of pharmacy services within the SDEC unscheduled care area. This will include independently reviewing and managing patients, while working within a highly supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Support with the day-to-day leadership to the Acute/General Medicine Pharmacy team.
• Continue the delivery of sustainable models using the skill mix of the Acute/General Medicine Pharmacy team to ensure patients receive their medicines safely.
• Provide advanced clinical pharmacy input into the treatment of patients at the MAU/General Medical Wards through ward rounds and clinical MDT meetings.
• Collaborate closely with a highly supportive multidisciplinary teams to deliver service development and quality improvement initiatives in the directorate.
• Participate in the WGH Emergency Access group which reviews unscheduled care performance and collaborate with the wider site team to ensure site priorities are delivered.
• Participate in cross-site collaborative clinical groups for Acute/General Medicine to share best practice

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to experience a dynamic and forward-thinking pharmacy service which is embedded within the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to daily ward rounds.

Whether you're looking to expand your leadership skills through line management or take on the challenge of leading a larger service that spans both inpatient and outpatient settings, this role provides the platform to do so.

You’ll have the chance to work on:

• Service development projects aimed at improving patient care and modernising service delivery. A wide variety of clinical experiences including exposure to a fast-paced clinical environment, optimising pharmaceutical care across the scheduled and unscheduled care pathways.

About you

To excel in this role, you will need:

Essential Qualifications and Competencies

• A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
• Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• An Independent Prescribing Qualification.
• Candidates who have not completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy must demonstrate substantial progress across the four pillars of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum through:Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced CurriculumActive participation in a community of practice/peer networkSubmit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
• Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
• Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
• Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
• Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
• Candidates who have completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy should complete the learning needs analysis (LNA) using the LNA tool in the RPS e-portfolio, identifying any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans.

• Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
• Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
• Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
• Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven expertise in service development, including the design and implementation of healthcare initiatives.
• A strong background in training and education, with experience delivering impactful sessions for healthcare professionals.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, enabling effective decision-making.

About NHS Lothian

NHS Lothian is the second-largest health system in Scotland, covering Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian. Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is driven by a commitment to clinically led, person-centred care, ensuring every patient benefits from safe, effective, and efficient pharmaceutical services. We foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional development, making NHS Lothian an exciting place to work and grow your career.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. We warmly encourage you to get in touch with the hiring manager. This is a great chance to have an informal discussion, ask questions, and explore how this role aligns with your career goals. Requests for Compressed hours working pattern will be considered.

Reach out to:

Laura Kirkpatrick, Acting Lead Clinical Pharmacist WGH, email: laura.kirkpatrick@nhs.scot or bleep 8626 via switchboard 0131 5371000

or

Jin Hah, Site Lead Pharmacist WGH/SCAN, email: jinwerne.hah@nhs.scot or telephone 0131 537 1206

AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot can be great for planning and preparing your application—but your answers must be your own.

• Show us the real you: Your application should reflect your skills, experience, and motivations authentically.
• Use AI wisely: It’s fine to use AI for ideas or to check spelling and grammar, but don’t let it write your answers.
• Why this matters: Applications that rely on AI-generated content may be withdrawn. By applying, you confirm your responses are based on your own knowledge and achievements.

Tip: Think of AI as a helper, not a substitute. We want to understand you—not an AI tool.

As from 1st April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro-rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.

We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.

The email address you provide will be used for notifications. Please check your Junk and Spam inboxes as notifications may go directly to these.

We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.

This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.