Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 276-7566015-AC-D
- Employer
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Queen Victoria Hospital
- Town
- East Grinstead
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata for part time
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/05/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Pre assessment and Theatre Pharmacist
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Welcome to Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and thank you for your interest.
In addition to receiving tertiary referrals from across the South East of England, we have a network of ‘spoke’ sites at district general hospitals enabling our consultants to offer their expertise with routine treatments and consultations as close to patients’ homes as is possible. With the recent addition of video led ‘virtual’ consultations we also enable patients who have some distance to travel to avoid the additional stress and worry of a long journey.
Working at QVH combines the excitement, challenge and career opportunities of many larger organisations with the satisfaction of delivering excellent patient care that really does re-build our patients’ lives.
We also offer attractive benefits such as
- tailored personal development to support career aspirations, including accredited clinical and management development programmes
- flexible working arrangements for a work-life balance that suits you and your needs
- a dedicated reward programme, offering a range of national and local discounts, cashback and tax relief schemes
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Sustainability
At Queen Victoria Hospital we want to be the first Net Zero Hospital in England, and to achieve that wants every member of staff to be a green champion. The way in which the Trust works has a significant impact on the organisation’s carbon footprint and that of our patients. From the heat, light and power supplies within the hospital to avoiding unnecessary patient journeys, the Trust is empowering all staff to create a sustainable health and care environment for future generations. The Trust expects all staff to reuse and recycle more, to use energy and water efficiently, to walk or cycle to work if you can, and to have a focus on sustainability in the workplace.
You can view our Green Plan here: Green Plan - Queen Victoria Hospital (qvh.nhs.uk)
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.
Working for our organisation
Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond.
A centre of excellence, with an international reputation for pioneering advanced techniques and treatments. Everything we do is informed by our passion for providing the highest quality care and the best clinical outcomes.
At QVH we are proud of our achievements and our specialist services continue to record excellent clinical outcomes for patients. We regularly receive excellent results from patient satisfaction surveys and on average 98% of inpatients say they would recommend the hospital to their family or friends.
Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.
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.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
- GPhC registered
- Post-graduate certificate in clinical pharmacy or equivalent
- MPharm in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Independent Prescriber
Desirable criteria
- MSc in clinical Pharmacy or equivalent practical experience
- Management Qualification
Skills
Essential criteria
- Negotiation and influencing people ability
- Effective problem solver
- Good keyboard and IT skills
Attributes
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Extensive hospital clinical pharmacy experience
- Multidisciplinary working, able to collaborate successfully
- Involvement in medicines audit
- Involved in service improvement or change management project
Desirable criteria
- Staff management
- Training / teaching
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Involvement in service improvement and change
- Managed a clinical pharmacy service
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Kerry Stenning
- Job title
- Clinical Services Lead Pharmacist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01342 414215
- Additional information
For an informal chat or to arrange a visit please contact Kerry Stenning Clinical Services Lead Pharmacist
Email: [email protected]
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Holtye Road
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
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