Pharmacy Assistant

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in London seeks a Rotational Pharmacy Assistant to ensure safe supply of medicines to patients. Responsibilities include receiving deliveries, maintaining stock control, dispensing prescriptions, and supporting pharmacy operations. Essential qualifications include NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, good communication skills, and ability to work under pressure. Join us in delivering high-quality patient care and enjoy opportunities for career development within NHS.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

NHS Pension Scheme

Career development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Employee wellbeing programmes

Qualifications

• Literate and numerate, able to perform simple calculations.
• Enthusiastic about hospital pharmacy.
• Able to work flexibly including weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the day-to-day duties of the Pharmacy Store and Dispensary.
• Dispense prescriptions accurately for patients.
• Support compliance with safety and data protection standards.

Skills

Good communication skills

Organised self-management

Attention to detail

Ability to work under pressure

Computer skills

Education

Units of level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service skills

Job description

Job summary

Rotational Pharmacy Assistant - Band 2

Location: University Hospital Lewisham

Hours: 37.5 per week (including 1 in 7 weekend mornings)

Are you organised, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic about hospital pharmacy? Join our Pharmacy team as a Rotational Pharmacy Assistant and play a vital role in ensuring safe and timely supply of medicines to patients.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and check pharmaceutical deliveries.
• Maintain accurate stock control and rotation.
• Dispense prescriptions.
• Support wards and clinics with timely drug top-ups.
• Ensure compliance with safety and data protection standards.

What we're looking for

• Good communication skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Literate and numerate with attention to detail.
• Computer skills and ability to follow written procedures.
• Physically able for manual handling and standing for long periods.
• Flexible to work weekends and bank holidays.

Desirable

• GCSE Maths & English (A-C)
• NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services
• Previous pharmacy experience

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

• To assist in the day-to-day duties of the Pharmacy Store, Dispensary and Technical Services on a rotational basis.

Pharmacy Stores

1. Accept and sign receipt for deliveries of pharmaceutical products from suppliers, checking that delivery is for pharmacy department.
2. Unpack goods received and:
   • Check items and quantities received match delivery notes.
   • Check they are in good condition.
   • Check they have adequate shelf life.
   • Check prices match those on delivery note.
   • Sign delivery note to accept goods into the pharmacy.
3. Use the computer system to receive goods into the pharmacy store accurately.
4. Answer initial enquiries and, when authorised, contact suppliers to resolve delivery queries.
5. Distribute cardiac boxes to wards and departments and return any out of date boxes to the pharmacy with appropriate documentation.
6. Accurately put received goods in their correct location within the pharmacy, ensuring stock rotation.
7. Use the computer system to issue stock items lists to replenish stocks on wards, departments and community clinics, creating picking tickets and delivery notes.
8. Accurately select items on picking tickets ready for checking.
9. Accurately check items previously picked by another staff member and pack appropriately for delivery to required areas.
10. Accurately check picking tickets created by other staff members to ensure correct issues.
11. Accurately check community clinic orders, record details and complete time sheets for courier.
12. Process return of excess ward stock into the pharmacy stores, checking remaining appropriate shelf life and confirming quantities.
13. Record batch numbers and expiry dates of all vaccines issued to wards/departments and community clinics.

Dispensary

1. Accurately dispense prescriptions for both in and out patients, including outpatients, inpatients, discharges, controlled drugs and clinical trials.
2. Take in prescriptions from outpatients and verify their details; collect current drug history from patient or carer or parent to identify any drug allergies, interactions or problems.
3. Assist with collection of prescription charges, taking in cash, cheques and card payments and using the pharmacy till according to procedure.
4. Replenish stocks of medicines in the dispensary, generating orders on the computer system and placing items on shelves with proper stock rotation.
5. Perform daily random stock checks against a computer-generated list, also checking expiry dates.
6. Ensure adequate stocks of containers, bags and sundry items for dispensing.
7. Pre-pack items for wards and departments following established procedures.
8. Assist with top-up of drugs to the emergency drug cupboard, visiting and replenishing stock to a pre-set level, ensuring correct storage and temperature checks.
9. Ensure that all dispensed inpatient items are placed in sealed bags at appropriate times for collection by the pharmacy porter, and handle return to dispensary.
10. File prescriptions and other pharmacy documents.
11. Check and record fridge temperatures, referring to manager in case of anomalies.
12. Receive drug charts and prescriptions from the inpatient hatch, recording details in dispensary logs.
13. Issue completed prescriptions and controlled drug supplies to ward staff.

Technical Services

1. Assemble ingredients, complete worksheets and labels, and prepare finished sterile and non-sterile products.
2. Accurately weigh and measure volumes during non-sterile product preparation.
3. Transfer assembled ingredients into the aseptic suite and isolator rooms for adult and neonatal nutrition and other sterile products.
4. Transfer assembled trays into isolator and clean rooms following spraying procedure.
5. Assist with aseptic preparation of approved products.
6. Pack cardiac boxes, complete documentation and facilitate monthly recall when necessary.
7. Record daily monitoring of fridge temperatures and manometers, reporting out-of-range readings.
8. Complete worksheets and labels for over-labelled items, agreeing with instructions.
9. Complete worksheets and labels for pre-pack medicinal products, accurately labeling with predefined instructions.
10. Accurately issue and transfer items used in technical services to appropriate cost centres using the computer.
11. Collect and pack used clean room clothing for contractor collection, authorized by a Senior/Principal Technician.
12. Deliver used forceps to the Hospital Sterilization Decontamination Unit and return sterilised ones.
13. Replenish stocks of medicines in the technical services area via computer orders and shelf placement, ensuring stock rotation.
14. Photocopy sufficient worksheets for departmental use.
15. File paperwork.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Units of level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service skills relevant to work areas.

Desirable

• Maths GCSE grade A-C (or equivalent).
• English GCSE grade A-C (or equivalent).
• Pharmacy Experience.

Experience

Essential

• Computer skills.

Desirable

• Previous Hospital/Pharmacy Experience.
• Ability to work from written procedures.
• Experience dealing with the public.

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Literate and numerate, able to perform simple calculations (tested at interview).
• Good communication skills.
• Team player.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Organised self‑management.
• Attention to detail.
• Enthusiastic about hospital pharmacy.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham
Lewisham High Street
London
SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

What we offer

• Generous annual leave and access to the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Career development opportunities, including training and progression within pharmacy services.
• Flexible working arrangements to support work‑life balance.
• Employee wellbeing programmes, occupational health support and staff networks.
• A culture that promotes learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Join us and help deliver high-quality patient care. Apply now to make a difference!

No sponsorship will be offered for this post.