Since the pandemic and lockdowns I have worked as a Project/Porfolio pharmacist in various contracts. I have worked as a locum clinical pharmacist across various private hospital groups and in more recent times in healthcare services for HMP. I have also worked within IT teams on Digital Transformation EPMA (Electronic Prescribing & Medicines Administration) projects within NHS Trusts, working on site and hybrid as the role dictated. This involved a lot of my Change Management skills. I have supported an NHS Trust during their Go Live week in a Clinical Pharmacist capacity. I remain an external coach to professionals at a busy SE London NHS Trust as part of their Coaching and Mentoring Programme for staff. I also use my healthcare background to carry out some Healthcare Advocacy/ non pharmacy work. For example in 2024 I have been invited and joined a Working Party Group for a Borough wide - Neurodiversity and Neurodevelopmental Needs Project run by the Croydon BME forum. I have also recently connected with an, NeuroDiversity Connect - a neurodivergent mentorship and peer connections community programme, as a Mentor

No

Several people have referred the agency to me over the years

I recently worked at a hospital where they prepare the Take Home medication (TTOs/ TTAs) for parients yet to go to theatres and also yet to be admitted over the weekend. This system can and does work well in some hospitals, however this is because the systems are place right from the pre admissions process to minimise risk of medication safety errors to the clients. Not being able to establish clear VTE prophylaxis plans for some clients, I explained why some TTAs could be released ahead of surgery and reminded staff the benefits of the TTA cupboard that the relatively new Resident Dr and nurses had access to. This was met with resistance from the pharmacy team. However by engaging with the nursing staff at all levels, the Resident AND then detailing potential harm to specific clients of the post operation notes were not detailed enough to capture required changes to the norm on a TTA, I was able to convince the pharmacy team of the need to be more cautious than they were perhaps used to with their regular staffing.

It's a system of licensing for manufacturing and dealing in medicines. To be looked at in conjunction with the Human Medicines Regulations 2012

Context: I am not an independent prescribing. I am working in a private hospital setting.

Whilst following local Medicines Management policies and using standars prescribing references eg bnf, antibiotic guidelines, NICE guidance etc.

The request usually comes from the nurse, who sometimes thinks some pharmacists are prescribers.

If the medication is for acute use linked to the admission. Check and confirm that the medication is appropriate for that client, procedure, indication against the local and standard guidance. Lots of hospitals have Consultant preference folders available which narrows down options for analgesia, VTE prophylaxis etc.

If the medication is a regular or planned medication

A medicines reconciliation, drug history taking whilst engaging with the client will identify regular medication. Reviewing the patient's notes, including the Pre Assessment review will identify any gaps in documentation. As will speaking with the nurse currently looking after the client. A written request to the Resident Dr (RMO) to review the notes and prescribe the required as appropriate (always good to follow up with a verbal request if possible). Depending on the nature of the drug that needs prescribing and workload and availability and urgently of the medication: I will make a decision to either contact the consultant or anaesthetist myself or ask the RMO to do so before prescribing.

This seems obvious however, I cannot over emphasis, communication and documentation make all the difference.

I would ensure documentation was factual. I would inform the relevant parties including the agency I was working via. I would ensure I armed myself with the steps taken to establish level of harm or potential harm to a client. Clarify what the other people involved consider to be the actual issue. See how I can learn from the a issue or complaint.

I have worked within a busy pharmacy team where the Director of Pharmacy delegated the role of Patient Safety Lead to myself as a Band 8 Team Lead. So my view is very much how can we identify ways in which to reduce risk. Pharmacy can play a huge role in helping minimise complaints because medicines related complaints and incidents do not always end up being the fault of pharmacy staff or any one person's actions, so it's important to see how I can add value, if incidents / complaints were to occur.

Clinical governance, in healthcare, is considered a framework, through which organisations are accountable for improving the quality of healthcare services. Its also about safeguarding high quality of care to clients.

A client returned to the private hospital for a review of her symptoms following a procedure over a week ago. On going to council the client on the medication pharmacy had been asked to dispense, I was met with a distraught client in a lot of discomfort and a spouse that was not very polite, was invading my space and interrupting his spouse which was distruptive to the counselling process. I explained politely what I was there to do and how I needed to try and understand how I could help and was not uble to do that unless he let me focus on his spouse. This was to manage expectations. I was then able to gain a picture of the client's concerns and the fact that she had actually been expecting to see a doctor and not a pharmacist. I was then able to reassure that I would go and find someone to come back and speak with her and I went and handed her case over to the nurse in charge. I remained polite whilst making it clear that my duty was to our client and disruptive behaviour was getting in the way of that and the spouse was accepting of how I handled the situation and the client was very appreciative at the end and apologised on behalf of a justifiably concerned but rude relative.