Pharmacy

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Updated 29 July 2024

The pharmacy at Dorset County Hospital provides a comprehensive pharmaceutical service. It is a bright, modern, purpose built department which utilises the latest information technology and pneumatic tube distribution system. It has a staff of around 70 people, including pharmacists, technicians, trainees, storekeeper, assistants, pre–registration pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and our admin team. They work together as a team to provide all the pharmacy services needed by a busy district general hospital with all the normal medical and surgical specialties.

We are located on Level 0 of the South Wing of the hospital. Use entrance South 2. There are lifts to all levels close by.

Inpatient with us?

If you are or are due to be an inpatient with us please bring a supply of your regular medication with you, including any injections, inhalers, eye drops or patches; this helps hospital staff prescribe your medication correctly, prevents delays in treatment and reduces waste.

If you would like to access any of our Patient Information Leaflets then please click here.

Prescriptions and prescription charges

We aim to dispense your prescription safely, accurately and as quickly as we can. With such a lot going on behind the scenes please appreciate that during busy periods there may be a need for you to wait.

For outpatients there is one prescription charge payable per item unless you are exempt. You may pay by most debit or credit cards. If you regularly pick up a prescription with us or at any Pharmacy, you may find a prescription prepayment certificate is a cost effective way of paying for your prescriptions. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc.

If you are exempt from prescription charges it will reduce your wait if you complete the declaration on the back of the prescription before presenting it to be dispensed. Please bring any exemption certificates with you.

Medicines provided in hospital and to take home following inpatient treatment are provided free of charge to NHS patients. The usual maximum period of supply for medicines is 28 days.

We can deal with queries about your treatment much more effectively if you ask the pharmacist any questions you have while you are actually in the dispensary. If you find you have a question about your medicines after you have left the hospital please use the contact telephone number below. Please note we cannot dispense NHS prescriptions issued by GPs.

Services we provide

Dispensing of inpatient and outpatient hospital prescriptions
Preparation of cancer chemotherapy and other sterile preparations
Procurement and supply of all dietetic and medicinal products
Provision of medicines information for patients and hospital staff
Education and training for medical and nursing staff

Named pharmacists are responsible for, and visit, all clinical specialities. We also train pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and foundation trainee pharmacists.

Opening times

We are open seven days a week.

8.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday except Wednesday
9am to 5pm on Wednesdays (to allow for staff training)
9am– 3pm on Saturday
9am-2pm on Sunday

Opening hours for Bank Holidays are 10am until 2pm, with the exception of Christmas Day when the department is closed. Outside of these times the hospital always has a pharmacist on call 24 hours a day for emergencies.

Contact us

For advice on medications, or to speak to our dispensary team, contact 01305 255294. This number is only manned when the pharmacy is open.

For patient services including queries regarding the dispensary and prescriptions, distribution or logistics, please email pharmacysupplies@dchft.nhs.uk

For careers, job opportunities, training or informal visits please contact pharmacybusinessadmin@dchft.nhs.uk

Principal Technician, Lead for Education and Training Pharmacy Technician Sophia.trim@dchft.nhs.uk

Potential NHS Hospital Foundation Trainee pharmacist should visit the Oriel website.

Informal visits by potential trainee pharmacists are welcome and strongly encouraged before the selection process begins to that you can see first-hand the facilities and working environment that we offer.

To contact our Chief Pharmacist Nick Jones email nick.jones@dchft.nhs.uk