The Role of Clinical Hospital Pharmacists

The Role of Clinical Hospital Pharmacists

An Overview of responsibilities, training and challenges.

Marwa Beiram

Introduction

• Clinical pharmacists work within hospital settings to optimize medication use.
• Their role focuses on ensuring safe, effective, and evidence-based prescribing.
• Aim: improve patient outcomes through medication management(1).

Patient Counselling – Provide medication advice to patients(2).

Monitoring for Adverse Drug Reactions – Identify and prevent medication-related issues(2).

Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Work with doctors, nurses, and healthcare teams(2).

Antimicrobial Stewardship – Promote responsible antibiotic use (2).

Medication Review & Optimization – Assess prescriptions for safety and efficacy(2).

Responsibilities

Required Qualifications & Training

• Education: Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) + Pre-registration year.
• Professional Registration: General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Additional Training: Clinical diplomas, prescribing qualifications, specialty certifications(3)

Challenges Faced

• High Workload & Staffing Issues – Managing large patient caseloads.
• Drug Shortages – Ensuring alternative treatment availability.
• Patient Complexity – Managing polypharmacy and comorbidities.
• Technological Integration – Adapting to electronic prescribing and AI-driven tools.

Conclusions

• Clinical hospital pharmacists play a vital role in patient care.
• Their expertise ensures safer, more effective medication use(4).

thank you for listening

References

1.NHS England» Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice. [cited 2025 March 5]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/privacy-notice/how-we-use-your-information/public-and-partners/clinical-pharmacists-in-general-practice/ 2.Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Prescribing Competency Framework [Internet]. Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 2021. [cited 2025 March 5]. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com/resources/frameworks/prescribers-competency-framework ‌3.Pharmacist education and training | General Pharmaceutical Council. [cited 2025 March 5]. Available from: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org/students-and-trainees/pharmacist-education-and-training 4.NHS England. NHS Long Term Plan. NHS England; 2019. [cited 2025 March 5]. Available from: https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk ‌5.Royal Pharmaceutical Society | RPS. [cited 2025 March 5]. Rpharms.com. 2010. Available from: https://www.rpharms.com ‌ ‌