Job summary
Walker Medical Group is looking for a Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and experienced team.

Main duties of the job

• Medicines Reconciliation
• Medication Reviews and Patient Support
• Repeat Prescribing
• Medicines Safety
• Communication and Liaison

About us
Walker Medical Group is based in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne, serving around 11,000 patients. Our broad patient base offers rich opportunities for learning and specialising in various areas of medicine.

Our team brings together a diverse group of clinical and non-clinical professionals, working collaboratively to deliver holistic patient care. The clinical team includes Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Health Care Assistants, and GPs, supported by a pharmacist and a social prescriber. They are in turn backed by our dedicated administrative and management teams.

What We Offer:

• A commitment to education and development as a teaching and learning practice
• A comprehensive Induction Program, offering time with colleagues to understand our team and workflow
• A strong focus on promoting and supporting health and wellbeing within the practice
• A positive workplace culture grounded in core values and supportive behaviours
• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme

Job responsibilities
Medicines Reconciliation

• Complete medicines reconciliation following hospital discharge, outpatient appointments and other transitions of care.
• Ensure patients' medication records are accurate and up to date.
• Identify discrepancies and communicate with relevant healthcare professionals to resolve them.

Medication Reviews and Patient Support

• Support clinical pharmacists and GP/Nurse Practitioners with structured medication reviews.
• Contact patients regarding medication-related queries and provide appropriate information within the scope of the role.
• Support patients with adherence, repeat medication queries and practical problems relating to their medicines.
• Identify patients who may require additional support and refer appropriately.

Repeat Prescribing

• Process repeat prescription requests in accordance with practice procedures.
• Review requests against the patient's medication record and established prescribing protocols.
• Identify inappropriate, duplicate or potentially problematic requests and escalate them to the appropriate clinician.
• Support the practice in monitoring repeat prescribing systems.

Medicines Safety

• Identify and report medication errors, discrepancies and potential safety concerns.
• Support medicines safety audits and quality-improvement activities.
• Help implement local and national medicines safety alerts.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and follow practice policies and procedures.

Communication and Liaison

• Liaise with community pharmacies, hospital pharmacy teams, GP practice staff and other healthcare professionals.
• Communicate with patients and carers in a professional, respectful and confidential manner.
• Deal appropriately with medicines-related telephone and face-to-face enquiries.
• Escalate clinical issues outside the scope of the pharmacy technician role to a pharmacist, GP or other appropriate clinician.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Pharmacy Technician qualification.
• Current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
• Good understanding of medicines management and safe use of medicines.
• Experience with medicines reconciliation.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good IT and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to recognise when a matter needs to be referred to a pharmacist, GP or another healthcare professional.
• Commitment to patient confidentiality and professional standards

Desirable

• Previous experience working in General Practice.
• Experience supporting structured medication reviews.
• Experience with SystmOne clinical system.
• Experience of medicines optimisation or audit work.
• Knowledge of NHS primary-care prescribing processes.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.