Senior Pharmacist - Frailty

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Who we are

NHS Ayrshire and Arran is one of 14 territorial NHS Boards within NHS Scotland.

In support of our core purpose of Working together to achieve the healthiest life possible for everyone in Ayrshire and Arran we are committed to a culture that is Caring, Safe, and Respectful. You will be required to work collaboratively in a safe, caring and respectful way.

To find out more about NHS Ayrshire and Arran please visit our website - NHS Ayrshire & Arran - Home (nhsaaa.net)

Position

Senior Pharmacist - Frailty

Hours and Shift Pattern

37 hours working over 7 days. The post involves participation in weekend, public holiday and late night dispensary rotas.

The post based at University Hospital Ayr/Biggart is offered on a fixed term/secondment basis for 18 months. The post based at University Hospital Crosshouse is offered on a fixed term/secondment basis for 12 months, with potential to extend to 18 months.

From 1 April 2026, the working week for NHS Agenda for Change staff in Scotland will be reduced. Full-time hours will reduce from 37 to 36 hours (pro rata for part-time staff) without loss of earnings.

What you will do

You will join our well-established clinical pharmacy team to provide pharmaceutical care to care of the elderly patients and patients with frailty within our frailty areas in our combined assessment unit and frailty wards at University Hospitals Ayr or Crosshouse. The post based at University Hospital Ayr will also provide clinical pharmacy services to care of the elderly wards at Biggart Hospital. We are currently developing our Hospital at Home services and input to frailty patients within this setting will be part of both roles. The postholders will work alongside the senior pharmacist for care of the elderly (band 8A) to develop new services across the specialty with a focus on working as an independent prescriber within these settings and liaising with the multidisciplinary team including the Hospital At Home and integrated care teams to improve the patient experience across different care settings.

These new positions will support the continued development of our frailty services and provide a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of service redesign and evaluation.

When applying please indicate which post(s) you are applying for within your application form.

Requirements

You are required to have a Master of Pharmacy degree or equivalent and be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You should have completed the Post-registration Foundation Programme for Pharmacists (or have demonstrable evidence of clinical knowledge equivalent to that level). It is desirable for the applicants to hold an independent prescribing qualification. Candidates currently working towards this qualification would be supported to complete this within an agreed timescale.

UK Driving Licence: Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential to this role.

Contact

Sarah McDonald Principal Pharmacist Clinical Services () or

Marion Hamilton Principal Pharmacist Clinical Services (). Ext

Additional Information for Overseas Candidates

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. Further information on what NHS Scotland Boards are required to do to check this as well as what your responsibilities include can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

The Recruitment Team are unable to answer individual queries at application stage about this, please visit here for further information.

Additional Information for All Candidates

You should apply for this post by completing the application process on JobTrain.

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• Please note, for all vacancies where a driving licence is required this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has a legal obligation to ensure that it does not employ any worker who has not been granted the relevant permission to work in the UK. This permission is, without exception, granted by UK Visas and Immigrations. We are required to check the entitlement to work in the UK of all prospective employees, regardless of nationality or job category. Candidates who require a Certificate of Sponsorship can access further information at

We are unable to provide sponsorship for bank contracts.