Overview
Go back Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust Principal Pharmacist for Ophthalmology. The Eye Department operates across two sites—St Helier Hospital and Epsom Hospital—and delivers a wide range of specialist services, including high-volume outpatient clinics, orthoptic services, preoperative assessment, laser treatments, and dedicated ophthalmology theatres.
Demand for eye care services is increasing, and ophthalmology is at the forefront of emerging technologies and innovative medicines. This role offers a superb opportunity for a pharmacist with a passion for specialist practice to shape and influence service development in an evolving field.
As Principal Pharmacist, you will play a central role in supporting and advancing medicines optimisation. You will work closely with Senior Nurses, Service Managers, the Orthoptic Lead, Ophthalmology Consultants, and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure high-quality, patient-centred care.
You will contribute to high impact projects, including supporting the implementation of electronic prescribing in outpatients through a specialist ophthalmic system—improving safety, efficiency, and overall quality of medicines use.
You will need good interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to organise and prioritise your work. We will provide appropriate training to aid your personal and professional development.
Main duties of the job
* Act as a core member of the Ophthalmology multidisciplinary team, promoting safe and effective medicines management across the service.
* Lead on medicines optimisation, clinical governance, and medicines safety initiatives.
* Drive and support the implementation of service improvements and pathway developments.
* Review and monitor medicines expenditure across ophthalmology services.
* Work directly with patients and carers to understand their needs, support adherence, and ensure optimal use of medicines.
* Provide expert clinical advice and support to medical, nursing, and allied health colleagues.
About us
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust provides a range of medical services to approximately 490,000 people living across southwest London and northeast Surrey. In addition, we provide more specialist services, in particular renal and neonatal intensive care, to a wider area, covering parts of Sussex and Hampshire.
We serve an area that is rich in diversity, with a mix of urban and rural areas, and differing levels of quality of life. We cover some of the most prosperous postcodes in the country, as well as some poorer areas. Together with our colleagues at NHS Surrey and NHS Sutton and Merton, we work to make sure that we deliver the best possible care to the communities we serve.
The Trust employs approximately 5,000 staff across its hospitals and is supported by over 500 volunteers.
Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about ESTH.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting job description and person specification document which contains more information about the role and requirements. Please ensure your application refers to the job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Skills
* Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of healthcare professionals and patients
* Able to manage difficult or ambiguous situations
* Able to manage time effectively and meet tight deadlines and to prioritise and manage workload
* Able to use own initiative to inform decisions and ensure accuracy
* Critical appraisal skills
* Familiarity with CMM pharmacy computer system
* Ability to manage change
Experience and knowledge
* Extensive post registration hospital experience at least 8a level
* Significant and relevant clinical experience working in areas linked to Ophthalmology
* Demonstrates evidence of excellent clinical knowledge and skills
* Understanding of current national standards, guidelines and service developments linked to areas covered by Medicine
* Experience of developing and leading on projects including change management and service development
* Staff training and appraisal, including providing feedback on performance
* Previous management experience with responsibility for pharmacy staff
* Principles of Clinical Governance
* Knowledge of CMM (formerly JAC) pharmacy computer system
* Risk management and assessment
* Procedure and business plan writing
* An understanding of how digital tools / EPR functionality can improve clinical practice in the hospital setting
* Demonstrates a whole system patient focused approach to work
Qualifications
* Masters in Pharmacy Degree - MPharm
* Pre-registration training Professional registration with General Pharmaceutical Council
* Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy or equivalent
* Membership of Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
* Member of the faculty of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (or working towards) at Faculty Advanced Stage II or Advanced level practice against the Core Advanced Curriculum
Skills and abilities
* Excellent organisational skillset and others
* Computer literate including familiarity with electronic prescribing systems
* Excellent communication skills verbal and written
* Ability to work under pressure and prioritise work
* Able to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Knowledge and experience of clinical audit methodology
* Up to date on changes to pharmacy and hospital standards
* Ability to implement and manage change
* In-depth understanding of the principles of Quality Improvement
* Ability to understand the needs of a breadth of stakeholders, including patients, and develop solutions
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
£61,631 to £68,623 a yearPa incl HCAS Outer pro rata
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