NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found in the further information for this vacancy.
This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Specialist Pharmacist
Gastroenterology
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service
Western General Hospital
Band 7 | 1.0 WTE | 37 Hours | 12 months Fixed Term/Secondment
£50,861 - £59,159 per annum
(includes weekend, on-call and public holiday working commitments)
Are you a forward-thinking pharmacist keen to apply your excellent clinical knowledge and skills in a fascinating and cutting-edge specialist area? Then look no further than this opportunity to work as part of the award-winning NHS Lothian Gastroenterology Pharmacy Team; a truly supportive and welcoming multidisciplinary team that highly values the input of pharmacy.
Gastroenterology at the Western General Hospital site provides high quality care to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nutritional care needs and other gastroenterology conditions across inpatient and outpatient areas. The gastroenterology unit is a 17 bedded ward attached to an outpatient infusion suite for administration of advanced therapies for inflammatory conditions. This is a split role and the successful candidate will work between inpatient and outpatient areas. This is an exciting time to join the gastroenterology pharmacy service with new medicines and service development initiatives on the horizon.
There is a key focus on the use of biologic and advanced therapies for inflammatory gastroenterology diseases, with input into the complex nutrition team.
About the Role
The main duties of this role, in addition to some regular technical and teaching commitments include:
* Providing clinical pharmacy services to inpatients at the Western General Hospital.
* Specialist clinical input for the gastroenterology biologics service. The role is varied and well supported within the clinical team, with pharmacists inputting to weekly multidisciplinary meetings, virtual reviews of patient treatment, counselling of patients due to start new therapies and scope to include pharmacist-led clinics with appropriate training.
* Ongoing service reviews of Homecare services for adult gastroenterology with support from the NHS Lothian Homecare team.
* Collaborate closely with a highly supportive gastroenterology multidisciplinary team, committed to innovation, quality improvement and service development.
* Day-to-day oversight, training and support of biologics administrative assistants.
* Responsibility for prescribing and/or clinically checking gastroenterology repeat prescriptions, for specialist gastroenterology medicines provided via homecare, IV infusion suites and hospital dispensaries.
* Although desired, independent prescribing is not essential for this role and training would be supported for the successful applicant.
Why Join Us?
* This team was awarded Hospital Pharmacy Team of the Year at the Scottish Pharmacy Awards 2025 because we offer a dynamic working environment that prioritises innovation, teamwork and patient outcomes as well as staff experience. You’ll also have the chance to work on:
o Service development projects aimed at improving patient care and modernising service delivery.
o A wide variety of clinical experiences including undertaking telephone counselling clinics, all supported by robust training and development opportunities.
About you
We’re looking for someone with:
Essential Qualifications and Experience:
* A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
* Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
* Completed training or equivalent competence mapped to the RPS Post-Registration Foundation Pharmacist Curriculum.
Skills and Attributes:
* Experience in proactively influencing prescribing, using clinical knowledge to optimise patient care.
* A strong patient-focused approach, with the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
* Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, enabling effective decision-making in an acute medical setting.
* A proactive attitude, with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
* A strong alignment with NHS Lothian’s values and a willingness to contribute to our dynamic team.
About NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian is the second-largest health system in Scotland, covering Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian. Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is driven by a commitment to clinically led, person-centred care, ensuring every patient benefits from safe, effective, and efficient pharmaceutical services.
We foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional development, making NHS Lothian an exciting place to work and grow your career.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. We warmly encourage you to get in touch with the hiring manager. This is a great chance to have an informal discussion, ask questions, and explore how this role aligns with your career goals.
For internal candidates: Please ensure that you have discussed your application with your line manager and that a completed and signed 'Pharmacy Secondment Approval Form' has been authorised prior to attending your interview.
Reach out to:
Claire O’Hare, Lead Gastroenterology Pharmacist, email: claire.ohare@nhs.scot.
Ewan Swann, Lead Gastroenterology Pharmacist, email: ewan.swann@nhs.scot.
Telephone: 0131 537 4001 to start the conversation- we’d love to hear from you!