Job summary
- Main area
- Pharmacy
- Grade
- Band 2/3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CC26-1104A-A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Pharmacy (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £25,272 - £27,476 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/11/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 12/11/2026
Employer heading
Outpatient Pharmacy Assistant
Band 2/3
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
Outpatient Pharmacy Assistant
Department: Pharmacy
Band 2 to 3 or Band 3 (£25,272 - £27,476 per annum)
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
It is an exciting time to join the pharmacy team at MKUH as we are continually growing in size and influence. We have recently undergone a major departmental refurbishment which included the installation of a new Pharmacy Robot and Controlled Drugs automated cabinet, the opening a new Pharmacy and Aseptic Unit in our Cancer Centre and the opening of a new Outpatient Pharmacy. Our services are being developed to ensure that every patient receives safe, high quality care as our patients are at the heart of everything that we do.
"We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute"
Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: W/C 12 November 2026
Main duties of the job
To support this, we are currently looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Pharmacy Assistant to be part of our outpatient pharmacy team. Initially providing dispensing services to our busy outpatient department, the post will provide a mix of clinical and commercial activities as we develop our services to outpatients and the Trust.
Working in the reception area you will be the first point of contact for our patients so having excellent communication and people skills is essential alongside the commitment to provide the best patient-centered care. You will be organised with a can-do approach and have the ability to adapt quickly to new situations.
If you are successful, you will work in a supportive and forward-thinking environment where you will be encouraged with your professional and personal development.
This post is offered on Band 3 or on a Band 2 progressing to a Band 3 on successful completion of NVQ level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills and suitable performance.
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.
Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Trust responsibilities:
- To be part of the Pharmacy team and work to enable the objectives of the Pharmacy and the Trust to be achieved.
Professional responsibilities:
- To be accountable for providing a high standard of service provision and customer service.
Clinical practice:
- To respond to common clinical conditions and minor ailments described by patients using the WWHAM mnemonic, recommending suitable over-the-counter (OTC) products and providing advice on their correct use. This will include consideration of danger symptoms and referring to the Responsible Pharmacist (RP) or other healthcare professionals and providing information on non-drug management of the condition to avoid recurrence.
Staff training & development:
- To train and supervise other pharmacy staff working in the reception area including Pre-Registration Technicians and Trainee Pharmacists.
Operational responsibilities:
- To serve patients and staff politely and efficiently, responding to their needs and referring to the RP or Outpatient Pharmacy technician appropriately.
Medicines Management:
- To be responsible for the replenishment of stock and consumables in the outpatient pharmacy to include frequent transportation from the main pharmacy and storing in the outpatient pharmacy.
Please refer to the Job Description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Level 2 qualification or equivalent (e.g. NVQ level 2, GCSE) or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Level 3 qualification or equivalent (e.g. AS or A Levels, BTEC, NVQ level 3) or equivalent experience
- Medicines Counter Assistant and qualification (or willing to undertake required course)
- Knowledge of medicines management, including relevant legislation and policies, acquired through basic qualification plus specialist training or experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Customer Service experience
Desirable criteria
- Hospital Pharmacy or Community Health Services Pharmacy experience
- Experience of using the JAC Pharmacy System
- Experience using prescription tracking system
- Experience in stock control management
Skills
Essential criteria
- Dedication to high quality patient care
- Ability to work as part of a team and provide support to other colleagues
- Flexible to meet service and patient needs
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations
- IT Skills for dispensing and stock management
Desirable criteria
- Good training skills
- Evidence of analytical and judgement skills when faced with facts or situations requiring analysis e.g. managing urgent requirements or prioritising work to meet patient need
- Evidence of proposing changes to practices or procedures for own area
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Personal and people development
- Polite and courteous
- Professional attitude
- Initiative and common sense
- Self-motivated and team player
Communication
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
- Evidence of ability to communicate clearly with and respond to queries from patients, carers, and staff
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sanil Patel
- Job title
- Associate Director of Pharmacy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For further information regarding this post or an informal visit, please contact Sue Saunders (Outpatient Pharmacy Technician) on 01908 996039 or [email protected]
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