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Aseptic Accountable Pharmacist

NHS aseptic services provide controlled environments in which trained staff prepare and dispense a range of products such as:

• Ready to Administer (RtA) products such as IV antibiotics.
• Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatments (SACT) such as chemotherapy.
• Parenteral Nutrition (PN).
• Cutting-edge treatments for both gene therapy and clinical trials.

Female medic wearing a facemask looking at a chart

What are NHS Technical Services

Technical services within the NHS are made up of the following services:

  • Aseptic Units: Carry out preparation and dispensing of patient-specific sterile medicines, including chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition (PN), central intravenous additive services (CIVAS) and clinical trials.
  • Production / Manufacturing Units: Carry out the manufacture of batches of medicines, including but not limited to chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition (PN) and central intravenous additive services (CIVAS), clinical trials and gene therapy.
  • Radiopharmacy: Carry out manufacturing and supplying radioactive substances used in nuclear medicine.
  • Quality Assurance (QA): Are responsible for ensuring that the final products conform to the appropriate quality. They are responsible for the creation and maintenance of the quality system used within technical services and are involved with the assessment of the quality of unlicensed medicines.
  • Quality Control (QC): Carry out a range of chemical and microbiological tests on medicines and materials to ensure they are safe to use.

Most products prepared for NHS patients who have cancer are prepared and dispensed within aseptic units which operate under the Section 10 exemption of the Medicines Act 1968.

It is a legal requirement aseptic units operate under the supervision of an Accountable Pharmacist.

NHS aseptic units are essential in the fight against cancer.

What is the Role?

As an Accountable Pharmacist, you will work within an NHS aseptic facility working in either a hospital or an NHS offsite location.

Depending on the NHS Trust you may have a split role as a clinical pharmacist in oncology or hematology services however this job split is less common given the complex roles and demands of an Accountable Pharmacist.

The Accountable Pharmacist is the person who is responsible for all aspects of the service within an aseptic unit.

The duties of the Accountable Pharmacist include:

  • Creation or approval of all standard operating procedures (SOPs) used within the aseptic unit.
  • Ensure that all standard operating procedures are understood and followed by all staff.
  • Ensure that all staff working within the aseptic unit have undergone appropriate training and re-training.
  • Carry out internal audits on subjects such as facilities, education, quality systems, etc.
  • Ensure the microbiology limits are maintained within the aseptic unit.
  • To provide senior management to all staff working in the aseptic unit.
  • Supervision of all aseptic staff, including, authorised pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants.
  • Act as an authorised pharmacist (carrying out the final release of products).

In some instances where the accountable pharmacist works within a split role they may be required to carry out:

  • Clinical verification of prescriptions.
  • Counselling patients on new and existing medications.
  • Prescribing of medication within their specialist remit.

Products are prepared within aseptic units for several reasons such as:

  • Ensures the quality of the products are fit for purpose.
  • Safe for the nursing teams as some products are hazardous to their health.
  • Reduce the risk of infection in patients.

Another type of product that is prepared within an aseptic unit is clinical trials. This is particularly gratifying when you see something you have been involved with becoming a licensed medicine helping better a patient’s care.

Within the aseptic unit, the team will generally consist of Pharmacy Aseptic Assistants, Aseptic Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists.

Working within cleanrooms requires staff to wear cleanroom clothing, hair nets, beard nets, gloves and occasionally masks. Staff are not allowed to wear makeup, false nails, false eyelashes, jewellery when working within the cleanrooms to maintain the strictly controlled environment to project the products and patients.

The sector is vital to providing care to some of the most complicated and clinically unwell patients and it is this that makes the job so worthwhile.

Everyone has been or knows someone who has been impacted by cancer, this is why a role in technical services is very rewarding as it enables you to join the fight against cancer.

Technical services roles are great for those who like challenge and variety.

Responsibilities

  • The Accountable Pharmacist has overall responsibility and accountability for all activity within an aseptic unit. This includes responsibility for the aseptic preparation of medicines, training of new and existing staff, compliance with procedures and law, safety of all staff within the facility and quality of all products.

Skills

  • Must have a high level of knowledge of aseptic services and good manufacturing practice (likely gained within band 6 – 7 posts).
  • Honesty and transparency: You need to be confident to report issues and mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes but it is critical to the patient’s health and wellbeing that mistakes are reported immediately. This is the case for pharmacy, aseptic and production roles, it is an attribute you will certainly need.
  • Strong leadership qualities are essential given you will be a senior manager for all staff working within the aseptic unit.
  • Attention to detail, for review of updated procedures and guidance documents.
  • Professionalism is a fundamental requirement of the role.

Salary

The role of an Accountable Pharmacist is a senior role and does not apply to newly qualified staff. This role is generally banded at an 8a or 8b depending on the size of the aseptic unit.

Band 8a: 50,952 – £57,349

Band 8b: £58,972 – £68,525

(Based on 2023/2024 pay scales)

More information on the pay, pensions and rewards, can be found on the NHS Employers website.

Working hours

An Accountable Pharmacist working in the NHS will generally work 37.5 a week.

The working models of each NHS Trust may vary therefore you maybe have to work the following models:

  • 9-5 Monday to Friday
  • Shift working
  • 7 day working

Employers

The role of an Accountable Pharmacist is exclusive to the NHS; therefore, this will not be found within any other organisations.

Work experience

Work experience in any area of the NHS would support you to access employment in your future career.

Asking to volunteer at a hospital at an early stage in your career is also of great benefit.

What to expect

You will be working in a very different environment, staff are required to wear cleanroom clothing, hair nets, beard nets, gloves and occasionally masks. Staff are not allowed to wear makeup, false nails, false eyelashes, jewellery when working within the cleanrooms to maintain the strictly controlled environment to project the products and patients.

A cleanroom lab

Career Progression

This role is a senior role within Pharmacy, however, there are still other career progression routes that may be possible such as:

  • Chief Pharmacist
  • Director of Pharmacy
  • Consultant Pharmacist
  • Deputy Director of Pharmacy

A full range of roles can be found within the career escalator tool.

Routes to become an Accountable Pharmacist

  • To become a pharmacist, you must have successfully studied for a Masters of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree and completed a foundation training year before registering on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register.
  • To become an Accountable Pharmacist, you must have a high level of experience within technical services, this is likely gained during employment of an Authorised Pharmacist within an aseptic unit.
  • Although it is not required it is common for an Accountable Pharmacist to have studied Pharmacy Technology and Quality Assurance to post-graduate diploma (PGDip) level.

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