A Day in the Life of a GP Pharmacist
Updated: Sep 4, 2023
If you're considering a career as a GP pharmacist, you might be curious about what a typical day in the role could involve. It is important to note that every GP pharmacist's day may differ slightly depending on their employer, experience level, location and workload. Inspired by a recent podcast with one of our GP Pharmacists, Nyrah Saleem, this article aims to share a general idea of what you could expect from the role.
Arrival at the surgery
Like most healthcare professionals, GP pharmacists have early starts to their day. After arriving at the surgery or practice where they work, they ensure that both their workspace and schedule are organised for the day ahead.
Patient consultations
GP pharmacists may often spend their mornings in patient consultations. They may see patients with long-term conditions such as asthma, for structured medication reviews (SMRs) to ensure that their condition is well-controlled, and their medication is optimised. On average, a GP pharmacist may have around 12 twenty-minute consultations in a morning session.
Answering patient medication queries
Between patient consultations, GP pharmacists receive numerous queries from the practice team that have come from patients regarding their medications. The GP pharmacist is responsible for addressing these concerns and providing advice.
Reviewing clinic letters
GP pharmacists may also spend time during a typical day reviewing clinic letters, including discharge summaries. The GP pharmacist is responsible for processing a portion of these letters that come through to the surgery on a daily basis to ensure the treatment plans are actioned in a timely manner.
Medicine optimisation
Finally, GP pharmacists may set aside time to carry out medicine optimisation tasks during their day. This may include checking whether medications have been prescribed in accordance with guidelines, or reviewing whether they are cost-effective for the practice and the Primary Care Network (PCN). These tasks are usually carried out through clinical audits.
In conclusion, the typical day in the life of a GP pharmacist can be quite varied. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in different areas and develop your expertise further. From patient consultations to clinical letters and medicines optimisation, GP pharmacists play a crucial role in supporting the Primary Care workforce.
If you're considering pursuing a career as a GP pharmacist, I hope that this article provides you with an insight into what to expect from the role. If you have any further questions, please feel free to get in touch using any of the methods below. Additionally, you can listen to our full podcast with GP Pharmacist Nyrah Saleem by following the link below.
Audio version of this article:
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