10 training places available: 7 places on the hospital programme and 3 on the hospital-GP split programme.
Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) is a world renowned center of clinical excellence and one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the UK. The Trust is made up of four hospitals with over 1100 beds across 60 wards.
The ultimate aim of this year is for trainees to develop from a pharmacy student into an independent, qualified pharmacist. This is not only passing the registration assessment; it means developing and consistently demonstrating the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to join the register as a practicing pharmacist.
The training programme
OUH offers a rotation based foundation training programme with a clinical focus. All trainees will experience the core rotations: medicine, surgery, cardiology, paediatrics, medicines information, mental health, aseptic services and clinical trials, community, and procurement.
Trainees will also experience some of the specialist rotations, such as neurology, gastroenterology, renal, cancer, infectious disease, respiratory, and critical care, where they will have exposure to specialist pharmacists (including some of the 8 consultant pharmacists).
The day is generally split in half with clinical time in the mornings and dispensary in the afternoons. At the end of the year trainees are given their own ward under supervision. See how a typical trainee year looks in the sample timetable.
Trainees undertaking a split programme with a GP surgery will be based in primary care for up to 13 weeks. Trainees will gain insight and experience of the role of the primary care pharmacist in the primary care team through involvement in the practice activities.
Support
All trainees have their own designated supervisor (DS) who will support and guide the throughout the training year. Trainees will meet up regularly with their DS, to ensure that objectives are being achieved and that they are continually developing. In addition, trainees will have support from three Educational Program Directors who oversee and co-ordinate the local foundation training year, and support from the training manager.
Why is Oxford a great place to train?
Direct involvement in patient care in a range of specialties
Being part of a multi-professional team
Support from fellow pharmacists and colleagues is always available
The opportunity to get input from, observe, and work with several pharmacists rather than just one role model
Sociable & supportive environment
Job satisfaction & an excellent grounding on which to base your career in pharmacy
Experience in busy teaching hospital sites as well as a District General Hospital during the year.
The Trust is made up of four hospitals – the John Radcliffe, the Churchill and the Nuffield Orthopedic Centre, all located in Oxford, and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, north Oxfordshire. The pharmacy department is a big team, providing a service across all four sites. Trainees will be expected to work in each of these; rotations vary in length from 2-6 weeks. It is possible to walk or cycle between the John Radcliffe, the Churchill and the Nuffield Orthopedic Centre as well as one of the GP practices. For placements outside Oxford (Horton Hospital or GP placements in Banbury), public or own transport will be needed.
The shift pattern is 9am to 5.15pm Monday to Friday, one Saturday or Sunday every 5 or 6 weeks, and one bank holiday in the year.
Contact
More information about the Trust is available on the OUH website.
If you would like to know more, please email Diane Evans, Jennifer Callander, and Charlotte Stewart, or call 01865 221109.
About the area
Oxford is located in the south of England around 50 minutes from London. It is well connected with good rail and bus links. Oxford is a historic city with plenty to see such as the University (parts of Harry Potter were filmed at Christ Church), the castle, the botanical gardens, and the Ashmolean museum. There are also several cinemas, an ice skating rink, bowling, lots of great restaurants, some of the oldest pubs in the UK (some dating back to the 13th century), and plenty of shopping including the Covered Market, the Westgate centre and the Bicester Village designer outlet. On sunny days, you can hang out in the University Parks, go punting on the river or venture out of the city to Blenheim Palace or to some of the picturesque villages in the Cotswolds. The Visit Oxford website contains more information about the city.