Specialist Clinical Pharmacist – Critical Care, Anaesthetics & SurgeryClosing date: 16 August 2026
Job summaryAn exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated and clinically focused pharmacist to join the Pharmacy Directorate at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as a
Specialist Clinical Pharmacist - Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgery. Based at Royal Blackburn Hospital, you will play a key role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred pharmaceutical care across critical care, anaesthetic and surgical services. This is an ideal opportunity for a pharmacist looking to develop advanced clinical practice within a supportive and progressive department. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, including consultants, nurses and allied health professionals, to optimise medicines use, improve patient outcomes and support safe and effective prescribing. The role includes participation in the weekly Critical Care MDT and involvement in quality improvement projects across the Lancashire and South Cumbria Critical Care and Major Trauma Operational Delivery Network. The successful candidate will provide specialist pharmaceutical input to patients across critical care, anaesthetics and surgical specialties whilst contributing to service development, medicines governance, clinical audit, education and research activities. Independent Prescribing development and practice is supported in line with departmental strategy.
Main duties of the job- Deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to patients within Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgical specialties.
- Work alongside consultants and multidisciplinary teams to optimise medicines use and ensure safe, evidence-based prescribing.
- Participate in consultant ward rounds, medicines reconciliation, therapeutic drug monitoring and discharge planning.
- Provide expert advice on complex medication-related issues to medical, nursing and allied healthcare professionals.
- Support medicines safety, clinical governance, risk management and the investigation of medicines incidents and complaints.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines management policies, guidelines and clinical protocols.
- Lead and participate in medicines optimisation audits, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support the education, supervision and development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trainee healthcare professionals.
- Help develop innovative pharmacy services including electronic prescribing, medicines management technology and technician-led initiatives.
- Deputise for senior pharmacy colleagues when required and provide professional leadership within the clinical pharmacy team.
The post also includes participation in weekend and, where required, out-of-hours pharmacy services
About usEast Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust provides high-quality hospital and community healthcare services for a population of over 550,000 across East Lancashire and surrounding areas. The Trust is committed to delivering safe, compassionate and innovative care whilst supporting staff to develop and reach their full potential.
The Pharmacy Directorate is a forward-thinking and highly regarded department which plays a central role in patient care, medicines optimisation and service improvement across the organisation. Our clinical pharmacy teams are integrated within specialty services and work closely with clinical colleagues to deliver excellent patient outcomes.
We are committed to supporting professional development and offer a wealth of opportunities including:
- Independent Prescribing development.
- Postgraduate education and specialist training.
- Clinical leadership opportunities.
- Involvement in research, audit and quality improvement projects.
- Participation in regional and network-wide pharmacy initiatives.
- Supportive multidisciplinary working and career progression pathways.
At ELHT, we value diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, and we are proud to provide a supportive environment where staff can thrive and make a real difference to the care of our patients.
DetailsDate posted: 28 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 435-D137-26-A
Job locations: Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities- Deliver a high-quality clinical pharmacy service to patients within Critical Care, Anaesthetics and Surgical specialties.
- Work alongside consultants and multidisciplinary teams to optimise medicines use and ensure safe, evidence-based prescribing.
- Participate in consultant ward rounds, medicines reconciliation, therapeutic drug monitoring and discharge planning.
- Provide expert advice on complex medication-related issues to medical, nursing and allied healthcare professionals.
- Support medicines safety, clinical governance, risk management and the investigation of medicines incidents and complaints.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of medicines management policies, guidelines and clinical protocols.
- Lead and participate in medicines optimisation audits, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
- Support the education, supervision and development of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trainee healthcare professionals.
- Help develop innovative pharmacy services including electronic prescribing, medicines management technology and technician-led initiatives.
- Deputise for senior pharmacy colleagues when required and provide professional leadership within the clinical pharmacy team.
The post also includes participation in weekend and, where required, out-of-hours pharmacy services
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- MPharm Degree (4 years) or equivalent
- Member GPhC
- Postgraduate clinical diploma (or working towards)
Desirable- UKCPA membership to Critical Care Group
- Intensive Care Society Membership
Special KnowledgeEssential- Understanding of local and national NHS and Pharmaceutical Policy
- Understanding of medicines legislation and guidance i.e. Medicines Act, Misuse of Drugs Act, Safe and Secure Handling of Medicines, Medicine Guidance Notes, MHRA Alerts
- Understanding of clinical and risk management guidance as applied to Medicines Management
- Broad range of understanding of clinical practice and knowledge of medical conditions
- General knowledge of NHS developments including primary and secondary care
- Understanding of clinical governance principles
- Knowledge of external agencies concerned with patient safety NHSLA, NPSA, NPC
ExperienceEssential- Advanced practice in one or more relevant areas
- Supervisory management of a team
- Advanced clinical pharmacy experience and practice
- Ability to deal with complex clinical issues
- Reports to committees
- Multidisciplinary working with medical and nursing staff
Desirable- Experience of leading pharmacy services in primary or secondary care
JudgementEssential- Demonstrates clear thinking and able to analyse highly complex problems of an ethical, pharmaceutical, or clinical nature
- Makes sound decisions with limited information
- Intuition - anticipate difficulties and take appropriate action
- Knows when to consult (own limitations
- Reflects on own practice and learns from experience
- Able to identify, prioritise and evaluate work
Communication SkillsEssential- Good verbal and written communication
- Courteous with all customers both internal and external including members of the public and other healthcare professionals
- Able to communicate highly complex information of a clinical nature
- Ability to influence senior Pharmacy and hospital staff and other people
Personal QualitiesEssential- Has vision and imagination, initiative, creativity, able to see beyond barriers
- Supportive and motivational
- Can balance strong leadership and working within a team
- Prioritises and meets deadlines
- Mature in approach and has professional credibility
- Able to be seen as a role model - reliable fair and balanced
- Flexible
- Systematic approach
- Energetic and can enthuse, 'can-do' approach
- Calm under pressure
- Thrives on change
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. 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).Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).Employer detailsEmployer name: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Royal Blackburn Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:
Divisional Lead Pharmacist-Surgery & Anaesthetics
Emma Watson
emma.watson@elht.nhs.uk
01254732251
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