It’s National Apprenticeship Week and Essex Partnership University NHS Trust (EPUT) is celebrating the work of its apprentice pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy technicians at EPUT are responsible for the safe supply of medicines to patients who use our services.
The Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician (PTPT) Apprenticeship involves two years of learning while working.
Apprentices work towards completing a Certificate of Higher Education, which allows them to then register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) as a registered pharmacy technician.
Four of our PTPTs, who are all at different stages of their apprenticeships, have shared their experiences.
Claire Adams has been a PTPT since September 2023 and is enjoying how much the apprenticeship is pushing her academically.
She said: “The course involves lots of assignments, which can be challenging but it’s very rewarding as they help to consolidate my learning and show my improvement.
“I have enjoyed getting to know how pharmacy works and discovering all the roles that qualified pharmacy technicians can have, and the positive impact they have on patient care.
“I enjoy working with the team at EPUT as everyone is always friendly and happy to help each other when needed.
“I am really looking forward to being able to go out to the wards as I am very passionate about patient care and would love to become a Medicines Management Technician in the future when I am qualified.”
Hannah Qureshi completed her PTPT this month.
She said: “I have found putting my theory work into practice has been really rewarding.
“I have enjoyed learning about the different medical conditions and treatment options available and applying this knowledge that I had gained when I was speaking to patients.
“In addition to this, I found talking to mental health patients for medical reconciliations and medication counselling incredibly gratifying as I felt I was able to make a difference in their care.
“Now that I am a qualified Medicines Management Technician and Accredited Checking Pharmacy technician, I plan to stay on working with EPUT part-time so I can spend time with my child, but also maintain and improve on the skills I have learnt.”
Nayana Prasad is starting her apprenticeship at the end of this month and is looking forward to developing core skills that can be used in a variety of patient settings.
She said: “I am looking forward to getting opportunities to explore different work settings and in advanced areas of practice, including management, mental health, oncology, and paediatrics and ultimately, registration with the GPhC and authorisation to dispense new and existing prescriptions.”
Sruthy Vannery Nandakumer has just completed her first year and has enjoyed working with the dispensary and pharmacy team.
She said: “My ambition is to be a bioinformatics scientist and I am planning to do a bioinformatics scientist level 7 apprenticeship course after 2028 when both my children will be in secondary school.
“I am really lucky that both the dispensary manager and the team members are equally supportive and caring to make sure I get enough time for study every week, especially nearer to assessment dates and portfolio deadlines, when they give me mental support and extra time to complete the work.”
EPUT usually offers pharmacy apprenticeships twice a year, so look out for opportunities on our Recruitment page.