World Pharmacists Day: meet our pharmacists | News

To mark World Pharmacists Day (25 September), we’re celebrating the vital role pharmacists play across Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW).

Two of our colleagues leading this work are Jonathan Bailey, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, and Dhalvir Midda, Lead Oncology and High Cost Drugs Pharmacist, whose specialist clinics are helping improve care and outcomes for patients.

Jonathan and Dhalvir offer a detailed and insightful look into their roles, the clinics they run and the impact independent prescribing is having on patient experience.

To mark the day, our Chief Pharmacist and Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation, Millie Johnson, said: “This is a time to celebrate our profession and recognise the powerful contribution pharmacists make in shaping healthier futures and transforming healthcare. My heartfelt gratitude to all our pharmacist colleagues at MTW who continue to embrace opportunities to evolve beyond traditional roles, develop advanced practice and expand their expertise, example in independent prescribing, to meet the changing and increasingly complex needs of our patients and communities.

“I am incredibly proud of the contribution our profession makes every day and of the many pharmacists who continue to push boundaries, inspire others, and create new opportunities for our profession. Happy World Pharmacists Day to pharmacists at MTW and everywhere.”

Read on to find out how Jonathan and Dhalvir’s work is strengthening multidisciplinary care and helping make our services more responsive.

Jonathan Bailey

What difference does it make being able to prescribe directly within your clinic?

It allows treatment decisions to be made promptly during the appointment, reducing delays for patients and avoiding the need for additional consultations. It also provides continuity, as I can review the patient’s clinical information, discuss their treatment and prescribe the most appropriate medicine or dose adjustment as part of the same consultation.

What do you enjoy most about running your own clinics?

I enjoy building relationships with patients and seeing the positive difference that effective treatment can make to their lives. It is particularly rewarding to support patients through decisions about advanced therapies and help them feel more confident managing their IBD. My clinical pharmacy experience, specialist knowledge of IBD medicines and understanding of biologic and immunosuppressant monitoring have been central. Good communication, clinical judgement, risk assessment and a willingness to keep learning are all essential.

What are you most proud of in your work as an independent prescriber?

I am most proud of helping patients receive effective and safe treatment while making the service more responsive to their needs. It is rewarding to know that my work can improve patients’ experience, support better use of medicines and enable the wider clinical team to focus on patients requiring more complex care. Enjoy helping and supporting my colleagues with complex cases and patient queries.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy clinic?

Getting outside in the countryside or enjoying some family time helps me switch off after a busy day.

 

Dhalvir Midda

How does independent prescribing help improve patient care and experience?

It allows the patients to receive consistent and continuity of care and we get to build a relationship with the patient. We are the experts in drug management and understand the drug interactions and adverse events.

What do you enjoy most about running your own clinics?

I really enjoy the fact that I have oversight of the patients journey and feel I provide patient centred care. I enjoy the autonomy in the clinical decision making. The relationships that I make with the patients are very important to me.

What skills or experience have helped you develop as an independent prescriber?

I have strong clinical and decision-making abilities. I work closely with the breast cancer clinicians allowing me to develop the service. I have built confidence in my patient consultation and communication skills and managing the patients in a more holistic way.

What are you most proud of in your work?

The positive impact on the patient care and allowing them to have a consistent and continuity of care. Building good relationships with patients over several years, and the patients are very grateful for this.

What’s your favourite way to unwind after a busy clinic?

I like to have a nice healthy lunch after the clinic. I like to go to the gym in the evening or go for a walk to destress from the day.