High Cost Drugs Pharmacist, Band 8a

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

High Cost Drugs Pharmacist, Band 8a (15 hours)
This is an opportunity to join the Best Value Medicines team and contribute to the management of high-cost medicines use within GHNHSFT in collaboration with the Formulary, Biologics, Homecare, Cancer Services, EPMA/Digital, and Procurement Pharmacy leads.
The post-holder will liaise with specialist clinical pharmacists, multidisciplinary clinical teams and commissioning stakeholders to identify, plan for, and implement new opportunities for cost-effective management of high-cost drugs.
The use of best-value medicines will be optimised by utilising horizon scanning, benchmarking, and monitoring of Medicines Procurement and Supply Chain (MPSC) contracts and NICE Patient Access Scheme (PAS) discounts.

• To support in the design and delivery of processes for high-cost drug management.
• To undertake regular horizon scanning to plan for the prompt adoption of generics and biosimilars.
• To work closely with Prescribers, Nurses and the Pharmacy team to facilitate the smooth transition from originator high-cost drugs to the most cost-effective generic / biosimilar.
• To support and deputise for the Formulary Pharmacist.
• To be a member of the GHNHSFT Drug & Therapeutics Committee and provide independent critical appraisals of new medicines in response to Formulary applications from GHNHSFT Consultants.
• To monitor NICE Technology Appraisals and Highly Specialised Technology Guidance, and work with lead clinicians to produce implementation plans.
• To monitor NHS England Commissioning Circulars and ensure that they are appropriately enacted.
• To support the development and delivery of approval processes and audit of high-cost drugs commissioned by NHS England and Gloucestershire ICB.
• To provide training to pharmacists in the screening of PbR-excluded drugs.
• To be a Blueteq Superuser responsible for registering and training relevant prescribers and Pharmacy team members to ensure that Blueteq drugs are only prescribed and dispensed following appropriate approval.
• To assist in the delivery of the medicines optimisation agenda by supporting the Pharmacy Medicines Savings Group and leading on medicines saving initiatives.
• To monitor the monthly Better Value Procurement report on Exend to identify and facilitate Pharmacy Procurement savings opportunities.
• To support the delivery of CQUINs relating to high-cost drugs.
• To support the Pharmacy Systems / EPMA Managers in maintaining an accurate digital drug catalogue that is consistent with the Gloucestershire Joint Formulary.