Clinical Pharmacists are highly qualified experts who train for many years to become specialists in medicines, how they work and can help people in a range of ways. They can work directly with you, as part of the general practice team, to make sure your medicines help you get better and stay well.

Having a clinical pharmacist at our PCN means that you can be treated by the best professionals for your needs. The role is pivotal to improving the quality of care, ensuring patient safety, outcomes and value through a person-centred approach. 

Having clinical pharmacists in GP practices means that GPs can focus their skill where they are most needed, for example on diagnosing and treating patients with more complex conditions.

What can Clinical Pharmacists help with?

You will see a clinical pharmacist when you need expert advice on your medicines. They can answer questions about medication and support patients over the course of their treatment. 

• Prescribing certain medications
• Structured mediciation reviews
• Reviewing your medication if you have been taking medication over a long time
• Discuss changes in medication, either after a stay in hospital or seeing a consultant
• Queries about medications
• Experiencing side effects from medications
• Managing a patient's condition holistically
• Ensuring patients get the most out of their medication
• Ensuring there is joined-up care for patients.

How can patients access advice and support from a Clinical Pharmacist?

Patients will be invited to have a structured medication review if a GP, or other healthcare professional, identifies that a patient might be struggling to manage their medications. Examples of this may include a patient suffering with adverse effects, or there have been changes in their condition that require the medications to be adjusted, or a patient may have specific needs to support them to take their medication safely e.g. swallowing difficulties.

The PCN Pharmacy Team can also proactively invite certain patient groups to a structured medication review as they may be on complex medications that require monitoring or have long term conditions that would benefit from regular review. Just as when you need to see a GP or practice nurse, you will see a clinical pharmacist in a private consultation room or a telephone consultation. Seeing the PCN Clinical Pharmacist does not replace an appointment with a doctor. You will still be able to see a GP if you need to.

Pharmacy Technicians in General Practice

Pharmacy technicians play an important role, complementing clinical pharmacists, community pharmacists and other health care colleagues. The purpose of the role is to lead improvements to maximise safe, cost effective best practice in prescribing to improve the quality of patient care.

What can Pharmacy Technicians do?

• Complete medicines reconciliations post hospital discharge investigating queries with hospital departments and community pharmacies. Action medication changes on patient's repeat lists (for prescriber sign off) and carry out de-prescribing and medication switches where appropriate.
• Carry out audits and manage high risk drug monitoring, requesting bloods and reviewing doses
• Consultations with patients regarding confusion or concerns about their medication and provide support including medication reminder charts and liaising with their community pharmacy
• Identify patients eligible for SMRs, review their record to address any overdue bloods or monitoring, compliance concerns or potential issues for discussion. They then book the appointments and send out invites
• Support our care homes by completing medication changes as well as highlighting patient's in need of medication reviews. Support care home staff with education surrounding medication safety and optimisation, policy review and stock control.
• Respond to general tasks regarding supply issues, formulary questions, brand requests and compliance concerns
• Set up and synchronise batch prescriptions / eRD
• Complete the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) through CPPE
• Work across all sites of PCN