Western General Hospital
Lead Pharmacist Rheumatology NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian Pharmacy & Medicines Service
Western General Hospital
Fixed-term/Secondment (10 months)
(includes weekend and public holiday working)
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 Rheumatology Pharmacy Team; a truly supportive and welcoming multidisciplinary team that highly values the input of pharmacy.
This is a well-established post in an outpatient specialty, with a commitment to twice weekly inpatient ward rounds. There is a key focus on the use of biologic and advanced therapies for inflammatory rheumatic diseases, with oversight of the osteoporosis & bone service. This position is based at the Western General Hospital but provides support and advice for all Rheumatology patients in NHS Lothian with input in specialist clinics at East Lothian Community Hospital or St Johns Hospital, Livingston.
About the Role
The main duties of this role, in addition to some regular technical and teaching commitments include:
1. Leadership and clinical input for the Rheumatology biologics service including chairing the weekly biologic multi-disciplinary meeting, patient education, undertaking clinics (after appropriate training), set up and manage all Homecare services for adult Rheumatology with support from the NHS Lothian Homecare team.
2. Collaborate closely with a highly supportive Rheumatology multidisciplinary team, committed to innovation and service development.
3. Day-to-day oversight, training and line management of the Specialist Rheumatology Pharmacist and three biologics administrative assistants.
4. Responsibility for prescribing and clinically checking Rheumatology repeat prescriptions, for specialist Rheumatology medicines provided via homecare, IV infusion suites and hospital dispensaries.
5. Manage the high-cost medicines budget for NHS Lothian Rheumatology, working closely with the wider clinical and finance teams to maximise use of resources.
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. Youll have the chance to work on:
6. Service development projects aimed at improving patient care and modernising service delivery.
7. A wide variety of clinical experiences including undertaking independent pharmacist-led clinics, all supported by robust training and development opportunities.
About you
To excel in this role, you will need:
Essential Qualifications and Competencies
8. A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
9. Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
10. An Independent Prescribing Qualification.
11. Candidates must have a Master of Pharmacy Degree or equivalent, be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and should have completed Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or Masters of Science (MSc) in Clinical Pharmacy or be able to demonstrate competence to the level of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Core Advanced Curriculum.
12. Candidates who have not completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy must demonstrate substantial progress across the four pillars of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum through:Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced CurriculumActive participation in a community of practice/peer networkSubmit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)Complete the to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
13. Candidates who have completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy should complete the learning needs analysis (LNA) using the LNA tool in the RPS e-portfolio, identifying any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans.
Experience and Knowledge
14. A commitment to improving patient care through pro-active, evidence-based pharmaceutical services.
15. Experience in influencing prescribing practices and working in a patient-focused environment.
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 were 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.
Reach out to Naomi 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.
For further information on what is included in the role and what skills/experience are being looked for, click on the links at the bottom of the screen to the job description and person specification. If after reading this information you have any questions, please contact Naomi Scott or Ewan Swann, joint Lead Rheumatology Pharmacists, email: or telephone 0131 537 4001 or Jin Hah, Site Lead Pharmacist WGH/SCAN, email: or telephone 0131 537 1206 to start the conversation wed love to hear from you!
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