Speakers

My career in pharmacy began in 2016 when I joined Boots Outpatients Pharmacy at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI). At the time, I knew little about pharmacy, but I quickly discovered a passion for the profession and realised it was a career I wanted to pursue. During my time there, I completed my NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Services, which provided a strong foundation for my future in the field. After two years, I was ready for a new challenge and moved to the inpatient pharmacy at the BRI. Here, I trained as a pharmacy technician, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in a fast-paced hospital environment. Once I qualified, I chose to remain in the dispensary, where I went on to achieve my Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) qualification. Wanting to expand my role further, I later transitioned to ward-based work and completed my Medicines Optimisation qualification. In 2022, I stepped into a completely different environment, spending nine months working in a female prison. This experience broadened my perspective on medication management, exposing me to the unique challenges of delivering pharmacy services in a secure setting. However, my passion for hospital pharmacy led me back to the BRI, where I took on the role of a Medicines Optimisation Technician, specialising in cardiac care. Over the course of a year, I deepened my knowledge in medicines optimisation and gained valuable insights into cardiac surgery and the patient journey. In 2024, I embraced a new opportunity as a Specialist Critical Care Pharmacy Technician, covering both cardiac intensive care and general intensive care. This role allows me to work closely with critically ill patients, applying my expertise to optimise their medication management in high-acuity settings. My journey in critical care has been incredibly rewarding, and I was fortunate to present some of my work on medicines management at the Society of Intensive Care of the West of England (SICOWE) conference. Currently, I am continuing to advance my skills by undertaking the Medicines Optimisation Level 3 qualification in Clinical Prioritisation. Pharmacy has been an exciting and fulfilling journey for me, filled with continuous learning and growth. I look forward to further developing my expertise and making a lasting impact on patient care.