Lead Pharmacist - Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery

Job overview

Southport and Ormskirk Hospital have an exciting opportunity to join our team as the lead specialist pharmacist in trauma and orthopaedics (T&O). We are looking recruit an experienced pharmacist with a keen interest in peri-operative management of patients undergoing elective surgery, and the medicines optimisation of patients following falls or trauma to become an integral part of our well established multidisciplinary team.

The successful applicant will take lead responsibility to support and implement quality-driven inpatient and outpatient services within T&O alongside our lead consultants and advanced nurse practitioners. This will ensure treatments prescribed are used in a safe, effective, prudent, patient-centred and efficient manner.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will promote safe and cost-effective prescribing across the Trust in collaboration with the consultants, pre-op clinics and the orthopaedic MDT. You will lead in drug usage analysis, identification of budget pressures arising from new products, co-ordination of projects and audits and the development and maintenance of guidelines, policies and protocols relating to orthopaedic surgery. You will have significant input into the choice of therapy prescribed for people with immobility, pain and preventative bone health based upon their comorbidities and response to treatment, and prescribing of appropriate treatment.

In addition to supporting our orthopaedic services, the post holder will provide a clinical pharmacy service to our acute surgical wards.

The Trust has recently undergone the implementation of EPMA and the post-holder will have a significant input into improved prescribing and therapeutic drug monitoring using electronic systems.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Provide a clinical pharmacy service to designated orthopaedic surgical wards and pre-op clinics and develop a specialist practice base in trauma and orthopaedics. This will include:
• Undertaking medicines reconciliation on admission including the contacting of GP surgeries/specialist clinics where necessary
• Review of patients’ medication to ensure safe and effective use, and seek resolution of any medication related issues
• Prescribing of patients’ regular medication on admission and other appropriate drug treatments according to clinical pathways within the orthopaedic directorate.
• Initiation of monitoring where deemed necessary
• Review and update of care plans depending on response, results of investigations and adverse effects
• Therapeutic drug monitoring for specific drugs
• Educate patients about their drug therapy

Administrative Responsibilities

Teaching and Training Responsibilities

• Provide clinical training for other pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, undergraduate students and pharmacy technicians
• Provide technical and clinical support to other pharmacists as appropriate within their area of practice
• Responsible for the personal development of foundation pharmacists and trainee pharmacists as appropriate. Undertake individual developmental review sessions for designated foundation pharmacists.
• Either tutor a pharmacist on the Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or act as a designated supervisor to a trainee pharmacist, marking work, appraising and supervising work and at ward level
• Actively participate and contribute to in-house clinical meetings
• Training of staff from other disciplines e.g. medical, nursing staff, allied health professionals on drug issues
• Participate in CPD/Revalidation as per department policy and national guidelines from The Royal College of Pharmacy and maintain portfolio of evidence of CPD
• Develop evidence-based treatment protocols in trauma and orthopaedic surgery for use within the Directorate or across the Trust where appropriate
• Facilitate implementation of local and national guidelines where appropriate
• To work with the Deputy Chief Pharmacist – clinical services and other senior members of staff to develop pharmacy services to the orthopaedic directorate as appropriate
• Attend clinical ward rounds, clinical and multidisciplinary meetings relevant to orthopaedic surgery as appropriate including orthopaedic surgical audit meetings
• Undertaking and supervising audit and research projects in clinical pharmacy practice or in trauma and orthopaedic surgery as appropriate
• To assist the Deputy Chief Pharmacist – clinical services with information regarding intervention monitoring by regularly recording clinical interventions and activities
• Representing the pharmacy department and the Trust in regional and other clinical pharmacy forums and meetings, particularly with respect to orthopaedic surgery
• In liaison with the senior technicians for procurement/computer services, provide and interpret monthly drug-use information for the orthopaedic surgical directorate and prioritise areas for action to contain unexplained spending. Liaise with Finance, Clinical Directors and Clinical Service Managers to address any financial concerns
• Develop evidence-based treatment protocols, guidelines and care pathways within orthopaedic surgery
• Responsible for drug administration protocols within trauma and orthopaedic surgery directorate
• Evaluate new drugs within orthopaedic surgery and advise formulary pharmacist and Drugs and Therapeutics Group on such matters
• Provide highly specialist pharmaceutical information to medical, nursing staff and patients in surgery and to General Practitioners and other staff within the Trust where appropriate
• Act as an independent prescriber in orthopaedic surgery or other clinical areas as requested by the Deputy Chief Pharmacist – clinical services. This should be in line with the Trust Policy for Non-Medical Prescribing
• Documentation of patient Medicines Reconciliation as per Trust Policy.
• Review of ward/department expenditure as allocated.
• Record regularly clinical interventions and activities in line with departmental policy. Audit/Research
• To participate in clinical audit and practice research within the department.
• Line manage designated junior pharmacist.
• Supervise junior pharmacists, trainee pharmacists and undergraduate students.
• Act as tutor for pharmacists undertaking a diploma in clinical pharmacy.

Other

• Provide professional and legal clinical supervision in the dispensary as allocated.
• Liaise with senior management to ensure agreed safe systems of work are followed that comply with current recommendations or instructions that may be issued from time to time by the Department of Health and Medicines Inspectorate
• Participate as necessary in the provision of emergency services outside normal working hours, weekend roster and Pharmacy late-night roster

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.