Becoming a general practice pharmacist in the United Kingdom can be a rewarding professional and personal experience. There are a few different ways to go about it, but the most common path is to first become a registered pharmacist and then complete a GP practice pharmacy training program. This article will outline the steps you need to become a GP practice pharmacist in the UK.
- Become a registered pharmacist: To become a GP practice pharmacist in the UK, you must first be a registered pharmacist. You must complete an accredited pharmacy degree and then register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC). Once you are registered, you will be able to practise as a pharmacist in the UK.
- Complete a GP practice pharmacy training program: Once you are registered as a pharmacist, you can apply to complete a GP practice pharmacy training program. These programs are typically 18 months long and include classroom-based learning and on-the-job training. Upon successfully completing a training program, you will be eligible to practise as a GP practice pharmacist in the UK.
- Apply for a position as a GP practice pharmacist: Once you have completed your training, you can then apply for positions as a GP practice pharmacist. Many of these positions are advertised on the NHS Jobs website. To be successful in your application, it is crucial to have a strong understanding of the role of a GP practice pharmacist and how you can contribute to the team.
Becoming a GP practice pharmacist in the UK can be a rewarding and challenging career. However, with the proper training and experience, you can make a real difference in patients’ lives.
Why become a general practice pharmacist?
GP practice pharmacists play an essential role in the healthcare system, and they have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of patients. Additionally, GP practice pharmacists typically enjoy good working conditions and a strong sense of job satisfaction. Therefore, becoming a GP practice pharmacist can be a great way to advance your career in the pharmacy field and positively impact the lives of others.
As a GP practice pharmacist, you will be responsible for providing pharmaceutical care to patients within a GP surgery. This can involve dispensing prescriptions, advising patients on medication-related issues, and conducting health promotion activities. You will also work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as GPs and nurses, to provide comprehensive care to patients.
GP practice pharmacists typically work regular hours, and they often have the opportunity to choose their own place of work. This can make GP practice pharmacy a desirable career option, especially for those who value flexibility and autonomy in their work.
Additionally, GP practice pharmacists typically report high levels of job satisfaction. This is likely due to the nature of the work, which allows pharmacists to directly help patients and see the positive impact of their work daily.
If you are interested in a career that is both personally and professionally rewarding, becoming a GP practice pharmacist could be a perfect choice.
What does a GP pharmacist do?
A GP pharmacist is responsible for managing and ordering medication for general practitioner (GP) surgery patients. They also provide advice to both patients and doctors on the use of medication and carry out other administrative tasks related to their role.
In addition to these responsibilities, a GP pharmacist may also be involved in the development and implementation of clinical governance plans, as well as providing training to other healthcare professionals on the use of medication. They may also be required to liaise with other members of the GP practice team, such as nurses and receptionists, in order to ensure that all patients receive the best possible care.
GP pharmacists typically work Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. However, some surgeries may require them to work additional hours, including evenings and weekends. During a typical day, a GP pharmacist may be involved in a number of different tasks, such as:
- Reviewing patients’ records to ensure that they are taking their medication correctly and that there are no potential drug interactions
- Answering queries from patients and GPs about medication
- Ordering and dispensing medication for patients
- Carrying out clinical interventions, such as blood pressure monitoring or cholesterol testing
- Providing training to other healthcare professionals on the use of medication
- Liaising with other members of the GP practice team, such as nurses and receptionists, in order to ensure that all patients receive the best possible care.
What is the role of a GP practice pharmacist?
The role of a GP practice pharmacist is to improve patient care through the provision of medication reviews, medication management and patient counselling. By having a pharmacist on-site, patients can benefit from having someone who is specifically trained in medications and how they work. This can help to ensure that patients are taking the right medications for their conditions and that they understand the potential side effects of these medications. Patients can also be referred to other healthcare professionals for further treatment if necessary. Ultimately, having a pharmacist on-site can help to improve the overall quality of care that patients receive.
How much do GP pharmacists earn?
GP pharmacists play a vital role in the provision of healthcare services and are responsible for ensuring that patients receive the best possible care. If you are interested in a career in pharmacy, then becoming a GP pharmacist could be a great option for you. Not only is it a rewarding and challenging role, but you can also expect to earn a good salary.
GP pharmacists in the United Kingdom typically earn around £27,000 per year. However, this can vary depending on a number of factors, such as experience and qualifications. Some GP pharmacists may also be eligible for overtime payments or bonuses, which can increase their annual salary to around £32,000.
How to search for jobs as a GP practise pharmacist
When you are applying for jobs, it is important to ensure that your CV is up-to-date and that you have a good cover letter. You should also make sure that you are familiar with the NHS Constitution and the Code of Conduct for Pharmacists, as these documents outline the standards of conduct that are expected of pharmacists working in the NHS.
You can search for jobs as a GP practice pharmacist on a number of different websites, such as NHS Jobs, Totaljobs and Indeed. You can also search for jobs in local newspapers and through agencies that specialise in the recruitment of pharmacists. In order to increase your chances of securing a job, you may want to consider undertaking some voluntary work or shadowing a GP practice pharmacist. This will give you the opportunity to gain some valuable experience and show potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge required for the role.
How to prepare for an interview as a GP practise pharmacist
As a GP practice pharmacist in the United Kingdom, you will need to be prepared for your job interview in order to increase your chances of being hired. Here are some tips on how to prepare:
- Make sure your CV is up to date and strong. This is your first opportunity to make a good impression, so don’t underestimate the importance of a well-written CV.
- Practice common interview questions. This will help you feel more confident and relaxed during the actual interview.
- Dress for success. First impressions matter, so make sure you’re dressed professionally and looking your best.
- Be prepared to answer questions about your experience and qualifications. The interviewer will likely want to know more about your background and why you’re interested in the position.
- Be positive and confident. Show that you’re excited about the opportunity and ready to put your best foot forward.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to impressing potential employers and landing the job of your dreams.
Interview questions to become a General Practitioners practise pharmacist
1. Tell us about yourself
This is your opportunity to sell yourself and highlight your strengths and experiences. Make sure you’re well-prepared for this question by rehearsing your answer beforehand. Be sure to stay positive and focus on your achievements.
Consider mentioning your successful experiences and discuss your strengths. You may want to link your answer as to why you decided to move to the primary care sector.
2. Why are you interested in this position?
When interviewers ask this question, they want to know if you have carefully considered why the role is a good match for your skills and interests. Think about the role of primary care and the NHS. Consider the use of clinical skills and lowering the burden of GPs, and improving access to healthcare.
Take some time to research the organisation you intend to work for and review key policies such as; NHS’s long term plan, NHS general practice workforce development, NHS’s vision for clinical pharmacists, and Primary care pharmacist associations guide for GPs wanting to employ pharmacists.
3. What qualifications do you have?
Your interviewer will likely want to know about your professional qualifications and how they make you suited for the role. Be prepared to talk about any relevant certifications or continued professional development training that you have. Independent prescribing and/or a clinical diploma would be useful skills to have. However, If you don’t have any formal qualifications, that’s okay too – simply focus on highlighting your relevant experience and skills instead and your desire to want to undertake further training.
4. What experience do you have?
This is your chance to talk about any previous roles that may be relevant. If you don’t have any direct experience, think about transferable skills that you may have gained from other roles.
5. What are your strengths?
When interviewers ask this question, they want to know what makes you stand out from the other candidates. Take some time to think about your key strengths and give examples of times when you’ve used them to achieve success. For example, your desire to develop clinically and in sync your self with the vision of the NHS.
6. What are your weaknesses?
Nobody’s perfect, and interviewers know this. That’s why they ask this question – to see how you handle admitting your weaknesses and what you’re doing to improve upon them. Be honest about your weaknesses, but be sure to emphasise that you’re taking steps to overcome them.
7. What are your future goals?
This question allows the interviewer to get a sense of your long-term aspirations and whether or not this role is in line with them. It’s important to have an answer that shows you’re committed to developing clinical and leadership skills.
8. What motivates you?
Your interviewer wants to know what drives you and what kind of working environment you thrive in. Be honest about what motivates you and give examples of times when you’ve been motivated to achieve success.
9. What challenges have you faced?
This question allows the interviewer to see how you deal with difficult situations. Think of a time when you faced a challenge at work and explain how you coped with it, such as dealing with an upset patient. Be sure to focus on the positive outcome of the situation.
10. Do you have any questions for me?
Asking questions shows that you’re interested in the role. Prepare some questions in advance so that you don’t find yourself stuck when asked this question in the interview. Some good questions to ask include:
- Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this role?
- What kind of development opportunities are available to someone in this role?
- Can you tell me more about the GP practice culture?
- What are the challenges facing the GP practice at the moment?
- What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in this role?
- Do you have any concerns about my qualifications for this role?
- Can you tell me more about the team I’ll be working with?
- What do you think are the most important qualities for someone in this role?
- What are the next steps in the interview process?
- When can I expect to hear back about the outcome of this interview?
11. Why do you want this job?
Your interviewer wants to know if you’ve really thought about why you’re applying for the role and if you would be a good fit for the company. Be sure to do your research before the interview so that you can convincingly explain why you want the job.
12. Why should we hire you?
This is your chance to sell yourself to the interviewer and convince them that you’re the best candidate for the role. Highlight your relevant qualifications and experience, and give examples of times when you’ve excelled in similar roles.
13. What are your salary expectations?
Be honest about your salary expectations, but be sure to emphasise that you’re flexible and willing to negotiate. This question is usually asked towards the end of the interview process, so you should have a good idea of what the company is willing to pay by this point.
14. Do you have any experience working in a GP practice?
If you have direct experience in the sector, then this is your chance to highlight it. If you don’t have any direct experience, think about transferable skills that you may have gained from other roles. For example, independent prescribing qualification.
15. What do you know about our practice?
This question allows the interviewer to see how much research you’ve done on the GP practice and whether or not you’re truly interested in the role. Be sure to do your research before the interview so that you can confidently answer this question. It would be worth reviewing the most recent Quality Care Commission (CQC) report about the practice. This will allow you to identify areas where the practice is performing well and where they are lacking/
16. What do you think of our practice?
Be honest in your answer, but try to emphasise the positive aspects of the practice. For example, if you’re not a fan of the practice, you could say that you appreciate the fact that it is constantly evolving and improving.
17. What do you think of our competitors’ services?
Although this may not be directly relevant. However, be honest in your answer, but try to emphasise the positive aspects of the GP practice. For example, you could say that you think they offer a great service to their patients.
18. How would you deal with a difficult patient?
This question allows the interviewer to see how you would handle a difficult situation. Be sure to give a detailed answer, and try to use a real-life example if possible.
19. How would you deal with a colleague who was not pulling their weight?
This question allows the interviewer to see how you would handle a difficult situation. Be sure to give a detailed answer, and try to use a real-life example if possible.
20. What do you think is the most important quality for someone in this role?
The interviewer wants to know what qualities you think are important for the role and whether or not you have them. Be honest in your answer, and try to highlight qualities that you think are truly important for the role. For example, clinical skills, independent prescribing and leadership skills.
21. Let’s go through your CV and talk about your experience
A very similar question to the ones we have discussed before. Ensure your CV is up to date with sufficient information. Be prepared to discuss
23. Why did you apply for this role?
Point out what you understand about the role and how your skills fit the role and can add value to the surgery, ie., think about the following; (1) being a team player ; (2) commitment to learning and continued CPD to improve knowledge ; (3) the drive to take on a new challenge; and (5) your ambition to want to contribute to the long term NHS plan
24. Why do you want to move to the primary care sector?
Think about the issues with general practice, shortage of doctors and development of your skills. You may want to add the desire for a new challenge and wanting to offer more clinical services.
25. What do you understand by the term frailty, and what is a structured medication review?
Be prepared to be asked questions such as the above. Ensure you can define the terms. With regards to frailty, also ensure you understand how to assess someone with frailty.
Frailty
Frailty is a common condition that becomes more prevalent with age. Frailty is characterised by a number of health problems, including weight loss, weakness, low energy levels, and poor mobility. Frailty can often lead to falls and hospital admissions.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to assessing frailty, as the condition can vary from person to person. The electronic frailty index (EFI) is a tool that can be used to assess whether or not someone is frail. The EFI measures five key factors that are associated with frailty: weight loss, weakness, low energy levels, poor mobility, and age.
The EFI is commonly used in primary care to help identify people who are at risk of frailty and who may need support to manage their condition.
Structured medication review
A structured medication review is a review of a person’s medication undertaken by a healthcare professional in order to optimise the person’s medication regimen. This usually includes a review of the person’s current medications, as well as any new medications that have been prescribed. The aim of a structured medication review is to ensure that the person is taking the most appropriate medication for their needs and to minimise the risk of adverse events.
26. What would you do if you had a patient present with a list of problems in your clinic?
Be honest if you have never worked in general practice. But, consider explaining what you would do if you did work within a GP practice. It would be reasonable to mention the importance of working within your scope and knowing when to seek help.
What is a clinical pharmacist?
Clinical pharmacists are increasingly being included in general practice teams, where they may provide services such as medication reviews and safety evaluations. They are highly trained experts in medicines who can assist individuals in a variety of ways. This includes conducting structured medication assessments for patients with long-term health issues and enhancing patient safety, outcomes, and value through a person-centred approach.
What is the difference between a clinical pharmacist and GP practise pharmacist?
In short – all pharmacists are clinical, and this term was coined to differentiate between pharmacists working in community pharmacies who are involved in dispensing medicines in contrast to those working in general practice who are involved in more clinically oriented tasks.
As explained, clinical pharmacists are pharmacists working as part of the general practice team. They utilise their skills to assist GPs in order to improve access to healthcare and patient outcomes.
What is a primary care network (PCN) pharmacist?
A Primary Care network or PCN pharmacist work with a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals in general practice and within the primary care network, providing initial assistance for prescription and medication questions.
PCN pharmacists (also referred to as primary care pharmacists) are responsible for medicines optimisation within the PCN, medicine reconciliation, expert advice on clinical drugs, and the carrying out of structured clinical reviews with patients to manage their complex polypharmacy requirements proactively.
What are primary care networks?
Primary care networks (PCNs) are groups of general practices that come together to provide coordinated care for their patients. PCNs can offer a number of benefits to patients, including increased access to services, improved coordination of care, and enhanced patient satisfaction. In order to join a PCN, the GP practice must be invited by the network coordinator.
PCNs offer many benefits to both patients and healthcare professionals. As a GP practice pharmacist, you will play an important role in ensuring that these networks run smoothly.
What training do you need to become a GP practice pharmacist?
Working as a pharmacist in general practice will require a pharmacist to develop existing skills and new ones.
Below is a list of skills a pharmacist should possess or be prepared to gain;
- Be able to undertake a person-centric and patient-facing consultation with patients.
- Provide outcome-focused medication evaluation services to people with multimorbidities who are taking many medications as a member of a multidisciplinary general practice team
- Enhance access to primary care services by utilising pharmacist independent prescribing qualifications and clinical knowledge. And actively involved in the management and/or diagnoses of acute and chronic conditions.
- Participate in offering appointment-based or walk clinics for acute or chronic conditions
- Develop new and existing relationships with other healthcare professionals and health providers such as community pharmacists, community pharmacies and allied health professionals
- Implement the plans of NHS England and local clinical governance committees
- Offer high-quality medicines optimisation services.
- Understand the structure of the NHS, NHS England, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and how general practice fits within the wider NHS
- Undertake clinical audits
