If you are moving to Ireland to become a pharmacist, you’ll need to know a bit more about the duties and responsibilities that come with it. In a retail/community pharmacy setting, you will have two main types of pharmacist jobs to choose from: support pharmacists and supervising pharmacists.
Once you have successfully registered as a pharmacist in Ireland with the PSI, you are then eligible to work as a support pharmacist. You can find a permanent support role, or try your hand at locuming in different stores as a relief pharmacist. At Clarity, we have opportunities for both permanent and locum work. Find the links at the end of this post.
In Ireland, pharmacies legally must have a supervising pharmacist. Usually, a support pharmacist will either work on the supervising pharmacist’s days off or they will work alongside them if the store is particularly busy.
The main duties of a support pharmacist include:
The operation of the dispensary in accordance with all the legal responsibilities pertaining to the profession of pharmacy.
Exercising all aspects of law, ethics and codes of practice as laid down by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.
Providing a safe and efficient dispensing service to all customers in accordance with pharmacy guidelines.
Ensuring that the delivery of medicines to all customers is safe and effective.
Building and maintaining relationships with local GPs and other health professionals.
Proactively approaching Nursing Homes and other relevant institutions to acquire new business.
Dealing with government and private scripts.
Some stores may also use healthmail; an email script system that comes directly from the doctor.
Some stores may have nursing home, methadone or blister pack patients.
These are just some of the duties carried out by support pharmacists. Each store will have its own way of doing things, different dispensing softwares, different sized teams, etc. When working as a locum pharmacist, it is important to be prepared to work in differing conditions.
At Clarity, we help those looking for both permanent and temporary pharmacy work. If you’re interested in becoming a support pharmacist in one, regular store on a permanent, full or part time basis, head to our Clarity Recruitment website.
If you would prefer to stick with locum pharmacy shifts, you can sign up to Clarity Locums and book shifts as you please.