Pre-Registration Pharmacist Training

Foundation Training Year Pharmacist Training

NHS Lanarkshire’s wide ranging comprehensive training programme

DOCUMENTS

Information on the NHS Education for Scotland Foundation Training Year

NHS Lanarkshire

NHS Lanarkshire serves a population of over 650,000 people and is one of the largest Health Boards in Scotland.

We care about the people we serve, and our ambition is to be a quality-driven organisation that is focused on achieving a healthier life for all. Our pharmacy teams work together to provide innovative, high-quality, person-centred pharmaceutical care.

The NHS Lanarkshire values of Fairness, Respect, Working Together and Quality underpin our purpose, providing local focus and context for the improvement of our services and guiding our individual and team behaviours. NHS Lanarkshire has a friendly, sociable and forward-thinking pharmacy team who embrace new ways of working and have won awards for our practice.

Foundation training year (FTY) places

We run a total of three FTY training programmes in NHS Lanarkshire, with a total of 13 places available across all of these:

Our hospital programme (6 places), where you will be based for 12 months in one of our three acute hospital sites: University Hospital Hairmyres, University Hospital Monklands and University Hospital Wishaw.
Our split programme (3 places) with 6 months in NHS Lanarkshire primary care, and 6 months in one of our three acute hospital sites.
Our modular programme (4 places), with 4 months in an NHS Lanarkshire primary care locality and 8 months in a community pharmacy in NHS Lanarkshire.

For more information on these programmes please click the options below.

Hospital

Our hospital pharmacy teams provide in-patient and out-patient dispensing, aseptic services, medicines information, and clinical trials. Our clinical pharmacists, many as prescribers, work across specialties like A&E, medicine, surgery, and critical care, with specialist teams in paediatrics, renal, mental health, oncology, and more.

Our foundation training programme offers diverse rotations, including dispensary, aseptic, medicines information, and primary care, with opportunities for specialist placements. You’ll work towards registration as a prescriber.

Split

We offer a split foundation programme with six months at one of our acute sites (University Hospital Hairmyres, Monklands, or Wishaw) and six months with the NHS Lanarkshire Prescribing Support Team who provide clinical care to over 100 GP practices. You’ll gain experience in hospital pharmacy, primary care, and prescribing activities, working towards registration as a prescriber.

Our pharmacy teams deliver a wide range of services across specialties, and our pharmacists, many as prescribers, work in advanced clinical roles. Supported by our dedicated Education and Training Team, you’ll attend training days, complete mock exams, and engage in quality improvement projects to develop as a competent and confident pharmacist.

Modular

Our modular programme includes 8 months in community pharmacy and 4 months with the NHS Lanarkshire Prescribing Support Team. You’ll gain hands-on experience in community pharmacy, managing repeat prescriptions, dispensing, conducting consultations, and providing services like NHS Pharmacy First.

In primary care, you’ll work alongside the General Practice team, supporting prescribing reviews and contributing to the Pharmacotherapy Service. Throughout the year, you’ll be in a supported environment, working towards registration as a prescriber. Many of our trainees go on to successful careers within NHS Lanarkshire.

To apply for these separate programmes, please search on Oriel.

Support for your training

We have an enthusiastic Pharmacy Education and Training Team who are committed to maintaining excellent standards in the education and training of all pharmacy staff and who have close links with both Scottish Schools of Pharmacy. They will work closely to support you and your Designated Supervisor and Designated Prescribing Practitioner throughout the year. You will attend training days, complete mock exams and mock interviews and be involved in quality improvement and audit during your year. We are fully committed to the GPhC and NES standards for foundation training with the aim of developing competent and confident pharmacist prescribers prepared to meet the needs of patients and the public. Our foundation training year has an excellent record of success and many of our former trainee pharmacists go on to continue their careers as registered pharmacists within NHS Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire employs over 200 pharmacists in the managed sector and there are excellent opportunities for further career progression.

Mairi Anderson, Foundation Pharmacist NHS Lanarkshire (Trainee Pharmacist NHSL Modular programme)

“Completing a modular FTY provides you with several learning opportunities unique to other trainees. It allows you to gain experience in different sectors of pharmacy – community and primary care – and learn how these interlink.

“You can gain a range of evidence which helps you to meet learning outcomes and work with a range of pharmacy professionals who are specialists in their area.

“The modular FTY programme is an excellent way to kick-start your pharmacy career!”

Jan King, Foundation Pharmacist NHS Lanarkshire (Trainee Pharmacist NHSL Modular programme)

“My modular FTY was a really good experience! It allowed me to experience different sectors of pharmacy that I hadn’t really seen through university.

“Gaining the clinical experience from the different sectors allowed me to be well prepared for the exam at the end of the year. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone having to adapt and fit in to new teams. It ultimately led me to wanting to pursue a career in Primary care pharmacy which I probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t done the modular FTY”

Rachael Kelly, Formulary and Clinical Effectiveness Pharmacist NHS Lanarkshire (Trainee Pharmacist NHSL Modular programme)

“The experience I gained from the Modular Training Year was invaluable and I would encourage Foundation Year Trainee Pharmacists to explore this programme.

“The variety of experience gained within the different sectors helped me professionally, as I was able to build professional relationships and gain key experience which would help build my future career and provide me with specific opportunities, but also personally, as I was able to use the year to really think about what area of Pharmacy I could see myself working in long-term.

“Working across different sectors and being able to see the patient journey in real time is something I have found beneficial to my learning and development. Overall, I believe the variety of experience offered by the NHS Lanarkshire Modular programme is well-rounded and definitely contributed to my confidence in working as a qualified pharmacist.”

Pippa Prescott, Trainee Pharmacist, NHSL Modular Programme

“The modular programme has been a great way for me to explore the different sectors and has helped me greatly in choosing the right career path for me.

“This programme has also allowed me to expand my clinical knowledge and understand how to apply it to different aspects of the pharmacy sector.

“I would highly recommend the modular programme to anyone as it has prepared me well to be a pharmacist.”

Kwame Asenso-Boadi, Trainee Pharmacist, NHSL Modular Programme

“My modular foundation training year was thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding. Within my time in both community and in primary care, I experienced several clinical, professional and practical scenarios, that pushed my knowledge beyond its limits.

“I felt greatly supported by NHS Lanarkshire, who held their own personal study days for their foundation trainee pharmacist, which provided opportunities to socialise with other trainees while also allowing an opportunity to participate in mock exams.

“This training year has felt invaluable and has sufficiently prepared me for my career as a pharmacist.”

Alice Deasy, Trainee Pharmacist University Hospital Hairmyres

“I have really enjoyed my FTY training at University Hospital Hairmyres. The pharmacy team is very supportive and friendly, and all of the staff are incredibly helpful. Hairmyres is also a great hospital site to work in. It is a relatively small-sized hospital which allows you to get to know the teams very well and build good working relationships with doctors, nurses, and other multidisciplinary team members.

“I have enjoyed all of my rotations, including my time spent on the medical and surgical wards and multiple dispensary blocks. I have also really enjoyed all of the interesting specialist placements including oncology and paediatrics. In addition, I have had the opportunity to undertake cross-sector placements in community pharmacy and primary care which have helped me to build my knowledge of the wide variety of pharmacy roles.

“Furthermore, in NHS Lanarkshire you are provided with lots of education and training support including multiple mock exams leading up to the final registration assessment and teaching sessions on exam topics such as P medicines, all of which are very helpful.

“I would strongly recommend undertaking your FTY training with NHS Lanarkshire, and I hope you will find it as great as I have!”

Patrick McClair, Pre-registration Pharmacist, University Hospital Monklands

“I have found all of the E&T team, my pre-registration tutor and all pharmacists within the health board very supportive and helpful, providing me with an excellent training year overall. I would highly recommend NHS Lanarkshire for any Trainee Pharmacist looking to gain experience within a well-organised and supportive environment which prepares you well to become a pharmacist.”

Conor Cronin, Pharmacist, University Hospital Monklands

“My pre-registration training consisted of a very well-rounded programme. I received experience in a variety of specialities, which was invaluable for preparing me to become a clinical pharmacist.

“I really enjoyed my training in NHS Lanarkshire. I felt like part of the pharmacy team from the beginning and always had an amazing support network to help me through my training.”

Michael Hillhouse, Pharmacist, University Hospital Monklands

“My pre-registration year in NHS Lanarkshire was an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I found this a very welcoming health board, especially the pharmacy teams across each site.

“I had a wide variety of training opportunities to support my development and help prepare me for life as a qualified band 6 pharmacist. “

Anna Matheson, Trainee Pharmacist University Hospital Hairmyres

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my foundation training year within NHS Lanarkshire. The education & training team have been very supportive throughout the year with regular study days and mock exams to help with your studying. You will rotate through a variety of areas such as dispensary and clinical, including some specialist placements like mental health, oncology and paediatrics. I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of different healthcare professionals, such as senior pharmacists, doctors and nurses who have always been very helpful.

“The NHS Lanarkshire team have encouraged me to take as many training opportunities as possible and accommodated my learning needs throughout the year, for example, I was able to spend time with the specialist diabetes nurse to learn about the different types of insulin and devices available. In addition, spending 4 weeks in community pharmacy enabled me to gain knowledge of OTC medicines and develop my leadership skills.

“I would highly recommend completing your foundation training year within Lanarkshire.”

Aqsa Ali, Pharmacist, University Hospital Monklands

“Through various rotations ranging from clinical/ dispensary/ medicines information and aseptic, NHS Lanarkshire provided me with a great foundation of knowledge and equipped me well for my future role as a band 6 pharmacist.

“NHS Lanarkshire also has an incredible network to help support and develop each individual.”

Stephanie Newberry, Pharmacist University Hospital Wishaw

“I enjoyed having the opportunity to work across three sites gaining experience in various specialities to broaden my clinical knowledge.”

Patrick McClair, Pre-registration Pharmacist, University Hospital Monklands

“I have had an excellent time as a Pre-Registration Pharmacist within NHS Lanarkshire, and the training has prepared me well for my career as a pharmacist. The training timetable is very well rounded and has allowed me to spend time within various clinical and non-clinical areas (e.g. general medical/surgical wards, dispensary and community pharmacy, in addition to specialist placements such as Mental Health, Paediatrics and Oncology).”

Claire Newlands, Pharmacist, University Hospital Wishaw

“Completing my pre-registration year at University Hospital Monklands has prepared me to work confidently and proficiently as a qualified pharmacist.

“Training as part of the hospital pharmacy team allowed me to learn from a variety of experienced pharmacists to help develop my own practice. In particular, the experience I gained in the various specialties across the hospitals; paediatrics, renal medicine, infectious diseases, mental health and aseptic services provided me with a well-rounded training year.

“This range of experience that NHS Lanarkshire provided equipped me for taking the next steps in my pharmacy career.”

Abbie Fisher, Prescribing Support Pharmacist, Prescribing Support Team

“I undertook my pre-registration training in Hairmyres Hospital before going on to a Band 6 rotational role. During my time here I participated in a well rounded training programme which included working across all three acute sites to gain an insight to the different specialties that NHS Lanarkshire offered.

“I was supported through my training by an excellent team to prepare me for my pre-registration exam in the form of mock exams, local training days and weekly education and training sessions within the department.”