Job Advert
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.
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Band 8A | 1.0 WTE | 37 Hours | 1 Year Fixed term or secondment
£62,681 - £67,665
(including weekend, late night and public holiday rota commitments)
Flexible working will be considered
Are you ready to drive innovation and shape hospital pharmacy services across NHS Lothian?
Do you want to make a meaningful impact by working within frailty services and advance pharmaceutical care? If you are an experienced pharmacist with a passion for service development and a track record of delivering results, this role offers an exciting opportunity to lead transformative change in front door pharmacy services in Lothian.
About the Role
We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated senior pharmacist to take on this newly created role as Advanced or Lead Pharmacist Frailty Services at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE). You will work closely with the multidisciplinary RIE Emergency Department (ED) Frailty Service, making proactive clinical interventions to benefit patient care, reducing admissions, length of stay and optimising acute hospital site flow. As an experienced pharmacist professional with significant clinical knowledge and skills, you will work autonomously to develop the role of the Advanced or Lead Pharmacist Frailty Services, driving service development and transformation initiatives.
A key objective of this role is to build on the integration of clinical pharmacy services through collaboration with primary care and community teams. Through close working with Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs), you will ensure patient pathways are optimised, maintaining coordination and continuity of patient care across the system. The postholder will also work closely with the Lead Pharmacist for Acute and General Medicine and the Lead Pharmacist for Medicine of the Elderly, working with a defined caseload of patients to deliver good patient outcomes.
Why Join Us?
At NHS Lothian, we value innovation, teamwork, and professional growth. As part of our pharmacy team, you’ll benefit from:
- The opportunity to lead impactful projects that directly improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.
- A collaborative and supportive environment, where your ideas and contributions are valued.
- Ongoing support for professional development, including advanced clinical learning and leadership opportunities.
About you
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic pharmacist with a passion for delivering exceptional clinical care.
Essential Qualifications and Competencies
- A Master of Pharmacy Degree (or equivalent).
- Registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- An Independent Prescribing Qualification.
- Completed Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or Masters of Science (MSc) in Clinical Pharmacy or be able to demonstrate competence to the level of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Core Advanced Curriculum.
- Candidates who have not completed a Postgraduate Clinical Pharmacy Diploma or MSc in Clinical Pharmacy must demonstrate substantial progress across the four pillars of the RPS Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum through:
- Engagement with the RPS Core Advanced Curriculum
- Active participation in a community of practice/peer network
- Submit a screenshot of portfolio (programme of learning page)
- Complete the RPS learning needs analysis tool to assess progress with the Core Advanced Curriculum and any gaps that will need addressed as part of PDP plans
Experience and Knowledge
- Proven expertise in service development, including the design and implementation of healthcare initiatives.
- A strong background in training and education, with experience delivering impactful sessions for healthcare professionals.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, enabling effective decision-making.
About NHS Lothian
NHS Lothian serves a population of 900,000 across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, and West Lothian. As Scotland’s second-largest health system, we are one of four teaching Boards, fostering strong partnerships with universities and research institutions. Our Pharmacy & Medicines Service is dedicated to delivering clinically led, person-centred care, ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s busiest and most advanced hospitals, providing a wide range of specialist and emergency care services, making it an excellent place to develop your clinical skills.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For further information on what is included in the role and the skills/experience we’re looking for, please refer to the job description and person specification linked below. However, we understand that there's only so much a job pack can convey. That’s why we encourage you to reach out for an informal conversation to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Contact:
Ommar Ahmed, Clinical Lead Pharmacist RIE
📞 0131 242 1948 📧 Email: ommar.ahmed4@nhs.scot
Or
Ewan McLean, Site Lead Pharmacist RIE/RHCYP
📞 0131 242 2900 📧 Email: ewan.mclean@nhs.scot
Make your mark on the future of hospital pharmacy—apply today
Please note: we anticipate a high level of interest in this position and may close the vacancy early once a sufficient amount of applications are received. Therefore, please make sure you complete and submit your application at an early stage.
We cannot accept late applications so please ensure your application is submitted early.
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We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
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.
As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.
For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licenced Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or ‘going rate’. Further information on these criteria can be found here.
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.
This post requires the post holder to have a PVG Scheme membership/record. If the post holder is not a current PVG member for the required regulatory group (i.e. child and/or adult) then an application will need to be made to Disclosure Scotland and deemed satisfactory before they can begin in post.
Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.