• Clinical Director of Pharmacy & Medicines Optimisation – Mildred Johnson
• Deputy Chief Pharmacist and Head of Pharmacy, Maidstone Hospital – Emmanuel Idowu
• Deputy Chief Pharmacist and Head of Pharmacy, Tunbridge Wells Hospital – Jonathan Bailey,
• Head of Pharmacy, Cancer and Technical Services – Dhalvir Midda
• Medicines Information: Senior Pharmacist – Pauline Taylor
• Procurement Chief Technician – Steve Gaskin
• Education and Training – Clare Williams
• Formulary – Amanda Le Page

There are over 100 staff employed by the department, working in four locations.

Pharmacists

It takes f years to qualify as a pharmacist (a 4 year degree course followed by 1 year of pre-registration training) All pharmacists, from a newly qualified junior to the Chief Pharmacist, are members of the General Pharmaceutical Council. (GPhC) Their training and professional qualification make them ideally placed to provide clinical advice and information to prescribers, nursing staff and patients on the safe and effective use of medicines. Our pharmacists work in the dispensaries, on wards and in specialist services such as oncology, medicines information, ophthalmology, paediatrics, intensive care and aseptic preparation.

Technicians

Pharmacy technicians have an NVQ level 3 and underpinning knowledge certificate in Pharmaceutical Science. They are also registered with the (GPhC). Their duties include the dispensing of prescriptions, the preparation of aseptic products and over recent years their role has expanded. Many of our technicians are taking medication histories, advising patients on how to take their medicines, undertaking the final check on a dispensed prescription, managing our dispensaries, controlling stock and purchasing.

Assistants

Pharmacy assistants have an important role and are trained in the pharmacy. Their duties include the distribution of stock to wards and departments and stock control of pharmaceuticals in the department.

Clerical and administrative staff

The department employs a number of clerical and administrative staff to support all of the pharmacy services. Communication, maintaining computer databases, keeping records of orders, preparation of reports and helping with the day to day smooth running of the department are among the jobs undertaken.