We offer a structured practical learning programme where you will gain experience in a variety of acute settings, to allow you to develop clinical decision-making skills. Our highly successful training programme also supports Pre-Registration trainee development into safe, competent and independent pharmacists.
During your time with us at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) you will experience:
Development is further supported by in-house training sessions, self-directed study time and regionally organised training courses.
Pre-regs are supported by a wide range of experienced staff including a named tutor, rotation and project supervisors and Pre-Registration manager. You will also independently contribute to patient care within the early stages of training, by providing warfarin counselling clinics and supporting technical-led services to a short stay clinical area.
We support a minimum of ten full time trainees each year and training is provided at South Tyneside District Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital and at our specialist ophthalmology hospital, Sunderland Eye Infirmary.
We also support two split secondary care and Sunderland PCNs training positions
Our pre-registration trainees have a 100% success rate for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration exam in the most recent exam cohort.
At STSFT we are the top trust nationally for hours spent on wards per week, as great emphasis is placed on clinical pharmacy where 90% of our junior pharmacists’ time is spent undertaking patient-focused activities.
Experience is gained in a wide range of specialties including:
The department works in partnership with the University of Sunderland where we host undergraduate student placements and facilitate inter-professional learning for students across disciplines. Research and audit within the department is well supported by the research and audit group and we have research links with the University of Sunderland.
Our pharmacists manage a busy outpatient anti-coagulation service and many advanced practitioners and specialists deliver a wide range of innovative services. We have many specialist independent prescribers undertaking outpatient clinics and prescribing within inpatient clinical areas.
Other services provided include those from the ‘licensed manufacturing unit’ with aseptic and non-sterile services, medicines information and automated dispensing services. Automated dispensing is now part of service provision within Sunderland Royal Hospital and electronic prescribing is used throughout the Trust.
Trainees will be largely based at Sunderland Royal Hospital (a >800-bedded hospital), with a proportion of the training year spent at South Tyneside District Hospital (340 beds) and a small amount of time at the Sunderland Eye Infirmary.
In practice, more than 75% of our Pre-Registration graduates remain with the Trust to complete their three-year foundation training programme, that includes the completion of a Clinical Diploma at Sunderland University. This course includes advanced clinical and diagnostic skills along with an independent prescribing qualification.