In order to provide the best possible care for our patients and customers, Boots UK has developed a new Pharmacy Advisor role to allow dispensing teams and healthcare teams to work more closely and flexibly, and to further allow the Pharmacist to spend more time with patients and customers. 

Pharmacy Advisors will use their expertise and knowledge gained as a Dispenser to take an active role in helping patients face to face.  Pharmacy Advisors will support the Pharmacist by working across both the dispensary and healthcare counter, which will enable them to spend more time getting to know patients and addressing their individual needs.

Pharmacy Advisors will be qualified in NVQ level 2 in Pharmacy Services Skills (or equivalent) as well as a Medicines Counter Assistant qualification.  Trainee Pharmacy Advisor roles will also be available with learning and development provided to gain the required qualifications.

Marc Donovan, Chief Pharmacist at Boots UK comments “Supporting more of our pharmacy colleagues to deliver face to face patient and customer care is vital to achieving our ambition for pharmacy to play a greater role in offering services that make a real difference to our patients’ health and wellbeing. The NHS is at a time of great change, and we know that pharmacy can do more.  We are investing in our people, and ensuring that more of our pharmacy teams have the skills they need to support pharmacists in delivering higher levels of care for our patients and customers, while also making sure that our dispensaries continue to provide levels of care and convenience our customers expect.”

To further support the Pharmacist and Pharmacy Advisor, a revised Pharmacy Technician Development programme has been introduced to allow them to play a greater role in running dispensaries.

These changes build on the recently announced Healthcare Apprenticeship programme, Boots UK’s commitment to support the next generation of Pharmacy Advisors and Pharmacy Technicians (including those with checking capability).  Our first cohort of 82 apprentices joined in September 2015 and we are planning our second intake for 2016. The programme offers opportunities for up to 350 young adults between 16 and 18 years of age. The apprentices will have the chance to gain full-time permanent employment and on-the-job learning in the most vibrant Boots stores across the UK. During this 12 month programme, young people will be fully trained so they can offer industry-leading healthcare advice and dispense medication within the pharmacy to NVQ level 2.

For further information please contact Claire Stuart on 0115 959 5995 or email Claire.stuart@boots.co.uk             

About Boots UK

Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise.  With 2,510* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.

 

*As at 31 August 2015 excluding equity method investments