Pharmacist

Pharmacists are experts in medicines and their use. They are concerned with the development of medicines, their preparation, dispensing and eventual use. There are four main areas of work:

community pharmacy
primary care pharmacy
hospital pharmacy
industrial pharmacy.

Community pharmacists sell and supply medicines. The majority work in retail outlets and some are employed by health centres or surgeries. Pharmacists handle large numbers of prescriptions and it is their responsibility to check every one. They:

check that prescriptions from doctors are valid and that the medicines prescribed are safe for patients
advise people on managing minor ailments
dispense prescription-only medicines prescribed by doctors
sell other pharmacy and general medicines to the public
advise people how to use medicines effectively
store medicines properly and securely
advise people about health matters
keep computer records
offer basic healthcare checks such as blood pressure monitoring
provide specialist services such as surgical support equipment
supervise and train staff.

Hospital pharmacists ensure that patients get the most appropriate medicines. Some manage production units in hospitals and a few are employed in quality assurance to ensure that medicines used in hospitals are satisfactory. They:

visit patients on hospital wards
monitor the response of patients to medication
advise doctors and nurses on the best drugs for patients
supervise pharmacy technicians who dispense medicines
order some medicines and make others
provide a medicine information service to district medical staff and patients
keep a formulary (a list of the hospital’s drugs that can be prescribed)
test the quality of medicines
store medicines properly and securely
visit nursing homes and local health clinics to advise staff on storing and distributing medicines.

Industrial pharmacists are employed by pharmaceutical companies and veterinary product manufacturers and might be involved in:

researching and developing new drugs
clinical trials of drugs
quality control
making sterile medicines
legal and licensing issues.

Pharmacists have to keep records in all areas of their work. They must also make sure that the strict laws controlling medicines are followed.

Hours and environment

Hours depend on the type of work.

Community pharmacists usually work 39 hours a week, which may include evening and weekend work on a rota.
Hospital pharmacists usually work 37.5 hours a week, and are likely to be on a rota for weekend work and on call at other times.
Industrial pharmacists usually work from 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Many pharmacists work part time.

Depending on the type of work, pharmacists might work in a shop, hospital or laboratory. They may need to travel locally to visit patients, nursing homes, health centres or clinics.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and where people live.

Salary Range €22k – €85k

Retail Pharmacist: 30+

HOSPITAL PHARMACIST:
Hospital Trainee Pharmacist: €22,000 – €24,000
Hospital Experienced Pharmacist: €31,000 – €62,000
Hospital Senior Pharmacist: €59,000 -€66,000
Hospital Chief Pharmacist: €65,000 -€85,000

INDUSTRIAL PHARMACIST
Trainee: €24,000 – €45,000
Qualified: €55,000 – €65,000
Senior: €75,000 – €85,000

Skills and personal qualities

A pharmacist should:

have strong science skills
be accurate and methodical
have good interpersonal skills
have good communication skills
be willing to accept responsibility
be able to supervise others
be comfortable using a computer
have good business skills, for community pharmacy.

Interests

It is important to:

enjoy chemistry and biology
be interested in people’s health and well-being.

Entry routes

To become a pharmacist, applicants need a degree in pharmacy leading to the qualification M.Pharm. There are 5 schools of pharmacy throughout the Island of Ireland approved by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.