Job overview
Due to maternity leave cover of the existing post-holder, we have an exciting opportunity to join the Pharmacy team as Principal Pharmacist for Commissioning, Formulary & Medicines Information.
As a direct report to the cross-site Head of Medicines Governance, Safety & Quality, this post-holder will be the department lead for our Medicines Use team (covering the Medicines Information service, management of high-cost medicines recharge / data submission and tasks related to the Drugs & Therapeutics Committee).
The post-holder will have a close working relationship with the Medication Safety Officer and other Principal Pharmacists / Pharmacy Technicians across our portfolio of Digital, E&T, Operations as well as linked to our Clinical Service Lines. Outside of the department, you will work closely with finance, information team, clinicians and partners across the healthcare system.
The post-holder will lead on establishing and maintaining robust reporting mechanisms to ensure good medicines governance and medicines financial governance across all BHFT sites.
You will be encouraged to maintain any prior clinical specialism.
Main duties of the job
- To be responsible for leading the Medicines Use Teams (Commissioning, Formulary and Medicines Information) at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This team is responsible for:
a. The operational running and work plan development of the Trust Drugs and Therapeutics Committee,
b. Maintenance of the joint medicines formulary (jointly with partners across BLMK and Central East ICB)
c. Co-ordinating the commissioning element of high cost medicines excluded from the National Tariff Payment System, including liaison with commissioners on medicines management related issues and internal finance / information teams
d. The operational running of the Medicines Information Service
e. Leading the Trust medicines Cost Improvement Plan (CIP)
f. Overseeing the education of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and other staff in activities related to medicines use
- To lead on the Bedfordshire Hospitals Drugs and Therapeutics Committee operations and work programme and to work closely with the Professional Secretary for the Central East Area Prescribing Committee
- To act as a professional role model for all registered clinical pharmacy staff, actively demonstrating integrity, ownership and leadership in all aspects of the role
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see complete Job description for full breakdown of roles and responsibilities, this is included in the supporting documents
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of Medicines Information, Commissioning and Formulary processes
- Experience in using medicines information systems
Desirable
- Understanding of commissioning of high cost medicines at system level
- comprehensive knowledge of trust management of patient data and activity coding
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience of working in a hospital pharmacy
- Experienced in working with and influencing senior medical / nursing staff
- Leadership and line management of a team including performance reviews
- Experience in policy writing and implementation
- Experience in undertaking critical evaluations and appraisals of new medicines / indications
- Experience of monitoring medicines budget and advising clinical teams / finance on areas of activity vs opportunities for improvement
- Ability to work accurately under pressure and to manage time effectively, working to deadlines
- Experience of implementing cost-efficiency plans at Trust wide level
- Experience of running a prescribing committee or equivalent
Desirable
- Active member of pharmacy professional group / networks
- High cost drug (NICE TA) implementation and monitoring
- Experience and use of HCD system i.e. Blueteq
- Understanding and experience of managing individual funding requests
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters degree in Pharmacy plus GPhC registration
- Postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy or equivalent
Desirable
- Member of professional body e.g. RPS, UKCPA
- Postgraduate MSc in Pharmacy Practice or equivalent
- Approved management or leadership qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Principal Pharmacist -Commissioning, Formulary & Medicines Information with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Luton, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Pharmacist role. The advertised salary is £66,582 - £77,368 per annum. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity leave cover 30 hours per week). The application deadline is 24 Jun 2026.
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