What does a hospital pharmacist do?
The main role of a hospital pharmacist is to promote the safe and effective use of medication by: • working with the healthcare team to ensure the selection of the best medication at the correct dose for an appropriate duration • monitoring and preventing or minimising side effects and drug interactions • providing medication counselling to patients • dispensing medications for patients in wards, the emergency department and those attending outpatient clinics • manufacturing specialised medications such as chemotherapy for cancer treatment, mixtures and creams etc • offering specialist drug therapy advice to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals within the hospital • visiting patients in their home after discharge to ensure safe medication management, and to prevent errors and readmission to hospital.
