
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and visionary pharmacist to take on this new role. As our lead Theatre & Pre-assessment Pharmacist, you won't just join a team—you’ll shape the future of our surgical pharmacy service from the ground up.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the direction, grow and develop this service whilst being supported by the Senior Pharmacy team. You will be working closely with our reputable clinical teams to ensure patients are ready for their surgery during pre-assessment clinics. You will also be prescribing medicines appropriately, accurately and timely on the day of their surgery. You will liaise closely with consultants regarding necessary omissions or amendments of medications as well as counsel and educate patients to ensure patients are well prepared and surgical outcomes can be maximised.
As an experienced senior prescribing pharmacist, you will take ownership of developing and implementing efficient clinical pharmacy processes. This role requires the ability to establish strong professional relationships quickly and lead on the generation of guidelines, audits, and service improvements.
Main duties of the job
- Lead, develop and evaluate medicines optimisation in Theatres and Pre-Assessment
- Provide and manage medicines optimisation for surgical patients which includes prescribing appropriate medicines for them on admission to Theatres and in Pre-Assessment and antimicrobial stewardship
- Manage own case load and provide expert opinion on medicines where appropriate
- Accept case referrals from Pre-Assessment and provide expert opinion on medicine(s) issues
- Provide a framework for medicines governance including auditing activities within Perioperative services ensure their monitoring and adherence
- Plan, manage, prescribe, monitor and review therapeutic programmes and demonstrate expert clinical knowledge in management of perioperative medicines some of which may be complex
- Line manage a member of the pharmacy team and be part of the senior pharmacy team
- Monitor and report on drug expenditure for perioperative services
You will not be expected to have experience of the specialist services covered by the Trust, but you must have self-motivation, enthusiasm, ability to lead with minimal direction, have clear, sound judgement, practice evidence-base medicine, have broad general clinical pharmacy knowledge and skills and be willing to lead from the front.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To apply for this unique opportunity, you must be a GPhC-registered pharmacist with a postgraduate clinical diploma (or equivalent) and be an independent prescriber. Excellent communication and presentation skills are essential.
We are looking for an experienced, flexible team player who can adapt to the unpredictable timings of a busy theatre environment requiring flexible working with earlier starts. While there are currently no weekend duties, some bank holiday cover is required. If you are a self-motivated professional who thrives in a friendly, ambitious, and challenging hospital setting, we want to hear from you.
This is a great opportunity for a pharmacist that would like to take that next step and take full leadership for developing and growing a new service. You will also be supported with training opportunities for you to continue to develop and learn the specialities of our trust. Our niche size offers exceptional opportunities to involve yourself in a wide variety of impactful projects.
At QVH, your wellbeing truly matters. We offer a warm, supportive environment with access to Occupational Health, psychological therapy, 24/7 confidential assistance through Vivup, and a wide range of wellbeing activities that help you feel your best at work and at home. From discounted gym memberships and eye care vouchers to stress support, weight management programmes, and a strong focus on safety and inclusion, we’re committed to helping every colleague thrive and feel valued every day.
This is a permanent, full-time position offering a chance to use your initiative and make a real impact.
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.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Negotiation and influencing people ability
- Effective problem solver
- Good keyboard and IT skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad clinical knowledge of medicines and pharmacology with ability to apply in practice
- Working as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Extensive delivery of pharmaceutical care to acute medical and surgical patients
Desirable
- Involvement in service improvement and change
- Managed a clinical pharmacy service
Attributes
Essential
- Flexible and effective teamworker
- Self motivated and able to motivate others
- Excellent all round communication skills and able to tailor style to suit audience
- Effectively tackles conflict
- Good time management and persistence
- Good analytical and organisation ability
- Vision to improve services
- Decisive, using sound judgement in decision in timely and confident manner
Experience
Essential
- Extensive hospital clinical pharmacy experience
- Multidisciplinary working, able to collaborate successfully
- Involvement in medicines audit
- Involved in service improvement or change management project
Desirable
- Staff management
- Training / teaching
Qualification
Essential
- GPhC registered
- Post-graduate certificate in clinical pharmacy or equivalent
- MPharm in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Independent Prescriber
Desirable
- MSc in clinical Pharmacy or equivalent practical experience
- Management Qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Pre assessment and Theatre Pharmacist with Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Queen Victoria Hospital. It is listed as a Band 8 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata for part time. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 01 Sep 2026.
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