The role of Pharmacy Technicians plays a valuable role particularly supporting Clinical Pharmacists in GP surgeries.

There are many benefits to appointing a Pharmacy Technician to your team as they can support with a range of tasks including patient satisfaction, improved repeat medication work flow, medicines optimisation, prescribing savings and medication safety. A Pharmacy Technician can support practices in the following areas:

• Ensuring accurate records of medication following discharge from hospital and liaising with patients to help their understanding of any changes

• Releasing pharmacist and GP time by resolving medication queries with patients

• Acting as a point of contact with community pharmacies where usual medications are out of stock

• Looking for equivalent medication alternatives for patients with difficulty swallowing tablets

• Advising on cost- effective prescribing choices and avoiding medication waste

Pharmacy technicians may also give advice to patients on stopping smoking, and provide expertise on different treatment options for patients in a specialist area, such as mental health or general practice.

To practise in Great Britain, pharmacy technicians must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and have satisfied the Council that it meets its detailed requirements.

Registered pharmacy technicians have to keep their skills and knowledge up to date with annual continuing professional development (CPD).

To practice as a pharmacy technician you need to study for an accredited qualification such as:

• BTEC National Diploma in pharmaceutical science

• NVQ/SVQ level 3 in pharmacy services

• National Certificate in pharmaceutical science

To apply for a course, you need to be working in a pharmacy setting.  All employers will ask for at least 4 GCSEs (9-4/A*-C), including English, math’s and two science or equivalent qualifications.

Training to become a pharmacy technician usually takes two years. It combines practical work experience with study, either at college or by distance learning. Courses cover:

• human physiology

• disease management

• actions and uses of medicine pharmacy manufacturing

• pharmacy law

Once qualified, many pharmacy technicians join the Association of Pharmacy Technicians (APTUK). The APTUK runs courses, conferences and seminars where pharmacy technicians can exchange ideas and update their skills.

Qualified and experienced pharmacy technicians can go on to study to become a pharmacist.

The Black Country and West Birmingham Training Hub are looking to recruit to a Pharmacy Ambassador Role to work alongside the Taining Hub Team to provide clinical expertise to help shape and to contribute to workforce transformation within the area.

The aim is that the Pharmacist Ambassador will provide clinical advice and guidance on the development of the projects and will be a strong link into Pharmacy Workforce to achieve the following outcomes:

• To enhance and support the delivery of the planned Pharmacy Network across the STP.

• To develop relationships with other Pharmacy Professionals across the STP in order to improve patient outcomes, better access and support general practice workload.

• To provide clinical expertise to develop a Training Hub offer that supports PCNs with the recruitment of Pharmacy Technicians

• Provide Primary Care Pharmacy Technicians with support, advice and encouragement and promote the peer mentoring offer to increase uptake.

• Support the development of a training needs analysis for Primary Care Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.

• Provide support and advice in developing a Primary Care Pharmacy Training Forum for the STP and identify areas for development.

Please see below useful job descriptions and person specifications if you are considering employing  a Pharmacist within your Practice;

1.  JD and PS for GP Practice Pharmacy Technician 

      2.   JD and PS for PCN Pharmacy Technician

To view the Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship offers from Walsall College, please click the link below:

Pharamcy Technician Apprentice Offers at Walsall College

To view the minimum requirements for the Pharmacy Technician role, please click the link below:

Pharmacy Technician Minimum Role Requirements

The following links are to other useful websites:  

• General Pharmaceutical Council
• https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/

• Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education
• https://www.cppe.ac.uk/

• Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK)
• https://www.aptuk.org/

Laura Sharpe

GP Forward View Project Manager

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