A DAY IN THE LIFE...

SARAH RAFFERTY, PHARMACIST

Getting it right can make a massive difference to someone’s life.

My background is in IT in pharmacy, so I’m excited that our new electronic prescribing system is being launched.

Having everything on one system is safer and it helps us get the right medication to people at the right time. It will help GPs do the same when the person goes home from hospital. I am excited about how much better it will be for staff and how it will help people stay well for longer.

Our team works to make sure there’s no delay in getting medicines to people on our wards. Today one of the pharmacists took a request at 3am – a newly admitted patient dependent on steroids couldn’t afford to miss even one dose so we made sure it was delivered.

Prescribing for mental health conditions is often complex. Two people with the same diagnosis may need very different medications, and medicines for mental health can sometimes have an impact on someone’s physical wellbeing. We will look into the person’s history and advise the prescribing doctor. We know that getting it right can make a massive difference to someone’s life.

I’m always thinking about what I can do to make things safer and more efficient.

I do on call shifts and also take any opportunity to go on to the wards. I love the chance to talk to patients and it keeps me connected to ward staff – after all their issues are my issues, being medicines safety officer means I get a chance to change processes for the better. I’m always thinking about what I can do to make things safer and more efficient. My husband is a pharmacist too – sometimes we’ll put our little boy to bed then sit and chill, but then a pharmacy related conversation will creep in!