About this role
Job summary
Orchard Surgery is seeking a motivated and patient-focused Clinical Pharmacist to join our expanding pharmacy team. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting safe and effective prescribing, medicines optimisation, and medication management across the practice.
The role will include processing medication changes from hospital and clinic correspondence, undertaking structured medication reviews, managing medication-related queries, and supporting the duty GP team with complex prescribing issues and medication interactions. Patients requiring medication reviews and prescribing advice will be triaged and allocated appropriately to the Clinical Pharmacist.
Main duties of the job
Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with long-term conditions and complex medication needs. Optimise prescribing in line with local and national guidance. Review polypharmacy and reduce inappropriate prescribing where clinically appropriate. Support safe prescribing and cost-effective medicines management. Identify and address medication-related risks. Clinical Correspondence and Prescribing Support
Review hospital letters, clinic correspondence and discharge summaries. Reconcile medicines following hospital discharge. Implement medication changes authorised within clinical correspondence according to practice protocols. Ensure medication records are updated accurately and promptly. Liaise with secondary care providers regarding medication queries where required.Medication Queries
Manage medication-related queries from patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Provide specialist advice on medication use, side effects, contraindications and monitoring requirements. Support the practice team with complex prescribing decisions.Patient Consultations
Conduct face-to-face and telephone consultations for medication reviews. Assess adherence and support patients in understanding their treatment plans. Review high-risk medications and monitoring requirements. Refer patients to GPs or other healthcare professionals when concerns fall outside the pharmacist's scope of practice.
About us
We are a forward thinking GP surgery serving a registered patient population of 12,500. Our team is dedicated to delivering high quality, patient centred care within a supportive and collaborative environment.
Medical Team:8 experienced GPs providing a wide range of clinical expertise
Advanced Nursing Support:3 Nurse Practitioners offering extended clinical services
Nursing Team:3 Registered Nurses and 1 Nurse Associate ensuring continuity of care
Healthcare Assistants:3 HCAs supporting patient care and clinical efficiency
Pharmacy Team:6 team members that focus on optimizing medication therapy, working directly with patients and healthcare teams to improve outcomes and safety.
Admin and Care Navigator Team:14 team members that provide essential support within the GP practice, combining administrative efficiency with patient focused navigation to ensure smooth access to care.
Together, this multidisciplinary team works closely to provide comprehensive healthcare services, with a strong emphasis on teamwork, innovation, and professional development.
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, progressive practice where every member of staff plays a vital role in supporting our patients and community.
Job description Job responsibilities
Medicines Optimisation
Undertake structured medication reviews for patients with long-term conditions and complex medication needs. Optimise prescribing in line with local and national guidance. Review polypharmacy and reduce inappropriate prescribing where clinically appropriate. Support safe prescribing and cost-effective medicines management. Identify and address medication-related risks.
Clinical Correspondence and Prescribing Support
Review hospital letters, clinic correspondence and discharge summaries. Reconcile medicines following hospital discharge. Implement medication changes authorised within clinical correspondence according to practice protocols. Ensure medication records are updated accurately and promptly. Liaise with secondary care providers regarding medication queries where required.
Medication Queries
Manage medication-related queries from patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Provide specialist advice on medication use, side effects, contraindications and monitoring requirements. Support the practice team with complex prescribing decisions. Investigate and advise on potential drug interactions and prescribing safety concerns.
Patient Consultations
Conduct face-to-face, telephone and remote consultations for medication reviews. Assess adherence and support patients in understanding their treatment plans. Review high-risk medications and monitoring requirements. Manage patients allocated through GP triage systems where medication expertise is required. Refer patients to GPs or other healthcare professionals when concerns fall outside the pharmacist's scope of practice.
Clinical Governance
Maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records using EMIS. Participate in prescribing audits and quality improvement projects. Support achievement of QOF, IIF and other contractual requirements. Contribute to significant event reviews and medicines safety initiatives. Ensure compliance with CQC standards and professional guidance.
Team Working
Work collaboratively with GPs, nursing staff and the wider multidisciplinary team. Provide education and prescribing support to practice staff. Attend clinical meetings and multidisciplinary team discussions. Contribute to the development of medicines management processes within the practice.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience working in General Practice, Primary Care Network or a patient-facing clinical pharmacy role. Excellent knowledge of medicines optimisation and prescribing safety. Strong understanding of long-term condition management. Ability to interpret and implement medication changes from clinical correspondence. Excellent communication and consultation skills. Ability to prioritise workload and work independently. Competent IT skills and experience using clinical systems.
Desirable
Experience using SystmOne and Ardens. Experience undertaking Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs). Knowledge of QOF, IIF and NHS primary care contractual requirements. Experience supporting medicines optimisation within primary care.
Qualifications Essential
Registered Pharmacist with current registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Masters degree in pharmacy (Mpharm) or UK recognised equivalent/ Qualified independent prescriber or working towards this.
Desirable
Independent Prescriber qualification or willingness to work towards obtaining this qualification. Primary Care Network PCN or GP practice experience. Experience using SystmOne, or similar clinical systems. Experience supporting long-term condition management. Relevant postgraduate clinical pharmacy qualifications.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Orchard Surgery
Address Commercial Road
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 1AE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.orchardsurgerydereham.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)