Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

[zakkaz]

A little more unusual than being a standard hospital/community pharmacist?

How easy are they to get into, how many positions exist, what exactly they involve day to day...

I'm thinking MUR pharmacist, independant/supplementary prescribing, pharmacy writing/journalism, NHS medicines management, PCT work, etc

[johnep]

Re: Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

Pharmacists have also been cosmetic chemists, perfumers and flavourists.

Matches and Coca-Cola invented by pharmacists.
johnep

[Tony Schofield]

Re: Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

A little more unusual than being a standard hospital/community pharmacist?

How easy are they to get into, how many positions exist, what exactly they involve day to day...

I'm thinking MUR pharmacist, independant/supplementary prescribing, pharmacy writing/journalism, NHS medicines management, PCT work, etc

PCT and medicines management jobs are advertised in the PJ or the Health Service Journal. Journalism opportunities are advertised from time to time in the journals requiring staff when they need them. It is useful to have worked for a few years, preferably in more than one branch of pharmacy before applying. I am an independent prescriber and such skills aren't usually advertised for except as part of a job description. I prescribe from my community pharmacy and from a central location in both cases for substance misuse patients.

MUR pharmacist? I know of one who just wrote to pharmacies offering to do 400 MURs for £4000. He reckoned he could do them in two weeks. I didn't take him up on it but many did. There may be more opportunities to do CV screening when it becomes a national spec enhanced service as many pharmacists I think will want to sub contract such work. Again, once qualified just write to every pharmacy you know.

Was that what you were looking for in a reply?

[zakkaz]

Re: Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

Ye cheers Tones

I want a varied job but they appear harder to obtain. Know of hospitals that offer p/t 3 day positions so would do that and locum in community for a couple days

[zakkaz]

Re: Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

Couple things, the MUR guy seemed like they had some success...was it mulitiples/independants he got the thumbs up from?

Would not mind going inde/supple rx, being an asthma suffered for over 2 decades, and hospitalised numerous times, doctor's often joke I know more than them lol Will see a greater amount of job satisfaction (which I
is what I aim for), to see DIRECT +VE IMPACT of what I do.

How long does inde/suppl take p/t and f/t ... and where are positions (I guess mainly in big health centres), and I heard they are mainly on a p/t contracted basis.... would prefer something long term, but will look into it

[Tony Schofield]

Re: Anyone doing more 'niche' pharmacy activities

Zak,

I may be old so please bear with me. I don't uderstand what you are trying to express here. If you want to know more about prescribing have a look at the DOH website.

As for prescribing being in health centres, we are paying the expenses of two pharmacists whose pharmacies are on remote estates, miles from doctors surgeries to prescribe in order that they may share the care of substance misuse patients. Of course once qualified they will also be able to manage long term illness from their pharmacies. I believe that is where the future is.

The guy specialising in MURs I think got most business from independents. If you are clinically proficient I think independents, who don't have time to acquire qualifications such as prescribing and clinical diplomas, may well be keen to buy your services.

It is a good idea to work partly in hospital and part in community but I have to say, your attitude expressed on another thread, if you are serious, may well be a barrier to progressing your career.

This response is based on what I think you said.