Job summaryJoin Our Team as
Lead Pharmacist - Surgery, Theatres and Critical Care - Lead the Way in Healthcare Innovation. Are you ready for an exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic service in the restructured pharmacy team at West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust? We are looking for a Lead Pharmacist to provide leadership and strategic direction to our clinical pharmacy service within the surgical directorate. This is a
12-month fixed term position to cover maternity leave, offering you the chance to make a real impact within an ambitious and supportive team.
Working closely with and reporting to the Principal Pharmacist for Clinical Services, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining and developing high-quality clinical pharmacy services across the Trust's surgical wards. This role requires an experienced clinical pharmacist with specialist knowledge of critical care practice and a passion for delivering excellent patient care within complex and fast-paced clinical environments.
Main duties of the jobThe post-holder will be Lead Pharmacist for Surgery, Theatres and Critical Care and must develop the specialist clinical pharmacy service to patients within the associated area in line with local and national standards and policies, ensuring the safe, clinical and cost-effective use of medicines and staff resources.
The post-holder will provide a highly specialised level of pharmaceutical care to patients and will support other healthcare staff in meeting risk management, financial management and clinical governance responsibilities around the use of medicines.
The post-holder will provide highly specialised advice within their area of clinical specialism to other pharmacists and healthcare professionals, including participation in multidisciplinary and governance meetings.
The post-holder will deliver training to pharmacists and foundation pharmacist trainees within their area of clinical specialism and must undertake clinical supervision, mentoring and assessments of junior pharmacists, medicines management technicians and pre-registration pharmacists.
The post-holder will carry out clinical pharmacy audit and practice research in conjunction with the Principal Pharmacist Clinical Services.
About us#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
DetailsDate posted: 05 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year
Per annum, pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 179-8103783-C-A
Job locations: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesWhat you'll be doing:- Leadership: Take charge of a skilled and dedicated team delivering clinical pharmacy services across Surgery, Theatres and Critical Care, ensuring excellence and consistency in patient care.
- Specialist Critical Care Practice: Provide expert pharmaceutical care to critically ill patients, acting as the lead pharmacist for Critical Care. Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to optimise medicines use, support complex clinical decision-making, and ensure the safe, effective and evidence-based management of medicines within critical care services.
- Strategic Impact: Contribute to the delivery of the departments strategic objectives, supporting innovation and service development during this key period.
- Patient-Centred Care: Ensure services remain safe, efficient, and effective, with a strong focus on optimising outcomes for patients across surgical and critical care pathways.
- Collaboration and Influence: Build strong working relationships with multidisciplinary teams both within and outside the organisation to influence and drive improvements across the Trust.
- Education and Development: Support the training, supervision and development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other healthcare professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning and clinical excellence.
Why Join Us?This is a fantastic opportunity to lead and shape a respected service while gaining valuable leadership experience within a supportive, innovative environment. Youll be joining a department committed to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement in patient care.
Please view full job description attached for full details of role.
Person SpecificationEducation and qualificationsEssential- Masters Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical or Technical Pharmacy or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Registered as a pharmacist with The General Pharmaceutical Council
Desirable- MSc in Clinical or Technical Pharmacy
- Independent prescribing qualification
- Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Experience and knowledgeEssential- Extensive post-registration experience with substantial hospital experience
- Extensive experience providing a pharmacy clinical service to patients in a range of surgical or ITU specialities
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working
- Experience in providing and evaluating pharmacy education & training including mentorship
- Experience of managing or supervising other staff
- Experience of implementing and/or reviewing policies, guidelines, PGDs or equivalent
- Evidence of on-going revalidation with the GPhC
- Highly specialised knowledge of the treatment of patients in a range of surgical or ITU specialities
- Knowledge of how the delivery of the clinical pharmacy service must meet the needs of local and national priorities
- Knowledge of pharmacy based computer systems
Desirable- Experience in the provision of pharmacy expertise to the clinical governance agenda
- Experience of providing post-graduate level training and/or education
- Experience of managing the entry of new medicines into a hospital formulary
- Experience of budgetary responsibility and/or experience with high cost drugs
Skills and abilitiesEssential- Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of healthcare professionals and patients
- Able to provide expert advice on the use of medicines to treat patients within a specialist area
- Able to manage difficult or ambiguous situations
- Able to manage time effectively and meet tight deadlines
- Able to prioritise and manage workload
- Able to demonstrate an advanced level of reasoning and judgment
- Able to present complex information to a large groups of staff
- Able to train and supervise staff
- Able to undertake prescription review of complex medication regimes
- Attention to detail and good problem solving skills
- Proficient computer skills
Personal qualitiesEssential- Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes positive team working ethic
- Shares information and good practice appropriately
- Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- Maintains high levels of concentration for prolonged periods of time
- Excellent verbal and written skills
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Principal Pharmacist – Clinical Services
Alexis Pedro Marcos
alexis.marcos@wsh.nhs.uk
01284713232
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
