The first-ever “national CPhO pharmacy technician fellowship” position was announced by England CPhO David Webb in a tweet last week (October 17).
The job description said that the position is a “one-year fixed term opportunity” to work with the CPhO’s office and the specialist pharmacy service (SPS) as the “first national pharmacy technician fellow”.
The fellow will “contribute to national healthcare priorities around patient safety, medicines optimisation, digitalisation and pharmacy workforce training”, it added.
Read more: UPDATED: DH launches consultation for pharmacy technicians to use PGDs
The job description stressed that applications are welcome “from experienced pharmacy technicians from any sector of healthcare” and that applicants must have “significant post registration experience in more than one sector”.
The new position, which is open for applications until November 9, is a 37.5 hours a week remote role and pays between £50,952 - £57,349.
“Absolutely fantastic”
The announcement, which coincided with pharmacy technician day, was accompanied by a video from NHSE senior professional advisor for pharmacy technician practice Liz Fidler who said she was “delighted to announce” the role.
She said that “the role of pharmacy technicians” is “evolving” to optimise “the value of another registered healthcare profession”.
Read more: Allow dispensing ‘without pharmacist on site’, says CPE-commissioned report
“The next year will be even more rewarding as we start to build on the great work of pharmacy technicians and teams”, she added.
Responding to the announcement on X – formerly known as Twitter - national programme lead for NHSE workforce, training and education Laura McEwen-Smith said it was “absolutely fantastic to see this recognition of the pharmacy technician profession”.
More responsibility for pharmacy technicians
The announcement comes as pharmacy technicians are set to take on more responsibility.
In August, the Department of Health and Social Care (DH) launched a consultation on its proposals for pharmacy technicians in the UK to be allowed to supply medicines under patient group directions (PGDs).
Read more: Pharmacy technicians granted powers to deliver more clinical services
And last month, the King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust’s “vision” for community pharmacy also recommended prescription dispensing without a pharmacist on site, saying it will “level the playing field” with GPs.
It added that the move could also help community pharmacies in rural areas become “financially viable”, saying that it sees pharmacy technicians developing “skills and ability” to take up “much of the dispensing role” to “free up pharmacist capacity”.
