AGENDA FOR CHANGE
NHS JOB EVALUATION SCHEME
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION
Job Title: Pharmacy Porter
Reports to Senior Assistant Technical Officer Distribution
Department, Ward or Section: Pharmacy Department
CHP, Directorate or Corporate Department: Direct Health Services, Pharmacy
Job Reference: SSCLSSRAIGPHAR40
No of Job Holders: 3 WTE
Last Update (insert date):
2. JOB PURPOSE
To facilitate the effective operation of the distribution function of the pharmacy department by timeously:
 Moving goods within the pharmacy department.
 Delivering pharmaceutical goods to and from the wards and departments in Raigmore
Hospital, on behalf of all sections of the pharmacy department but particularly the
Distribution and Dispensary Section.
3. DIMENSIONS
NHS Highland –Pharmacy
 Population served
 Staff WTE
 CHPs
 Medicines budget
210,000
92
3
£48.5m
Destinations served by Raigmore Pharmacy Distribution Section
 GP Practices
70
 GP’s
250
 Hospitals without pharmacies
18
 Hospital Pharmacy Departments
4
 Community Nurse Bases
105
 Community Dental Practices
16
 Community Chiropody Practices
18
 Nursing Homes
28
 Family Planning clinics
14
 School Nurses for vaccine programmes 26
Total number of destination points served – 500
Distribution figures based on 2003/04
Value of stock held in pharmacy store - £650,00 to £700,000 (at any one time)
Total value of goods supplied annually - £7.5m
Number of lines (different items) supplied annually - 270,000 approx
Number of requisition orders received annually - 49,000 approx
Number of lines held in stock – 3,000 approx
Number of lines available as non-stocks – 4,500 approx
Number of wards and departments served by top-up system –34 (including 1 outside hospital)
4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
See attached organisational chart.
Distribution
Manager (1)
Pharmacy
Technician
Vaccine Services
(1)
Senior Pharmacy
Assistant
(0.57)
Pharmacy
Assistants
(7.34)
Pharmacy Porters
(2.53)
THIS POST
5. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT
The function of the pharmacy service is to develop and provide integrated patient-focused
pharmaceutical care, which meets the present and anticipated needs of the population of NHS Highland
in accordance with the Local Health Plan and national strategies. The intention of the service is to link all
branches of the profession in order to better co-ordinate pharmaceutical care for patients and members
of the public. The focus is on active participation in, and contribution to multi-disciplinary, multiprofessional and multi-agency teams in a fully integrated manner. The main responsibilities are:
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The development and operational delivery (managed services) of pharmaceutical care across NHS
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Highland.
The provision of expert advice on community pharmaceutical matters to the NHS Board and its
committees, including the Direct Health Services Committee, to the Specialist Services Unit and the
three Community Health Partnerships, and to senior managers and prescribers.
The implementation of robust clinical, corporate and staff governance systems to minimise risk and
assure patient and staff safety and well being.
The role of the Distribution section at Raigmore Hospital is to provide a cost –effective storage and
distribution service for pharmaceuticals on behalf of the managed service of NHS Highland. The section:
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Is the main holding centre for NHS Highland for routine and non-routine medicines and
pharmaceutical sundries. This involves the regular review of stock levels held both to eliminate any
wastage by over stocking and also to promote compliance with NHS Highland Joint Formulary
policies and protocols.
Is designated holding centre for specific strategic drug stocks including antidotes, vaccines, blood
factor products and pods containing drugs to be dispensed to the general public in the event of a
chemical or biological terrorist attack in the region.
Manages the routine and non-routine supply of drugs and pharmaceutical sundries to over 500
destinations throughout NHS Highland. This includes regular supply of items requiring strict
adherence to “cold chain” procedures and “top-up” services to selected wards and departments.
Non-routine supplies are also made to other health related agencies including community
pharmacies, veterinary practices, Northern Constabulary, Royal Army Medical Corps, Scottish
Ambulance Service, Care Homes, etc.
Develops and maintains procedures for the supply of medicines and pharmaceutical sundries. This
includes the development of customised indents for functional groups or individual locations.
Plans and co-ordinates the supplies of medicines and especially vaccines, in accordance with
Government led campaigns, eg the supply of vaccines for the childhood immunisation programme.
Co-ordinates the return of drugs and pharmaceuticals from all locations as required by regulatory
agencies, or for other reasons.
6. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Transport medicines and pharmaceutical sundries, on a rotational basis including medical gas
cylinders, to and from all wards and departments within Raigmore Hospital, utilising trolleys and
pallet truck as appropriate.
Deliver refrigerated items to all wards and departments, ensuring these items are handed to a
member of the nursing staff for immediate unpacking and for placing directly into the refrigerator to
maintain the cold chain.
Sign for items for delivery, before they are removed from the Pharmacy Department. The porter is
responsible for the safe delivery of goods to the correct destination.
Monitor the Renal Unit’s stock level of acidic fluid and place an order for this with the technical staff
in the store.
Deliver heavy pallets of acidic fluid to the Renal Unit using pallet truck.
Remove green bags, boxes containing drugs and pharmaceutical sundries from the wards and
deliver to the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Section.
Move general bulky, heavy items within the pharmacy store and other sections of the department,
e.g. filing cabinets, desks, isolators, shelving utilising trolleys and pallet truck.
Assist drivers and storekeeper with the unloading and loading of vehicles, collecting and delivering
goods at the Pharmacy loading bays.
Undertake some cleaning duties including the disposal of general rubbish, cytotoxic waste and other
pharmaceutical waste including toxic waste.
Sign for acceptance of goods for delivery, deliver controlled drugs to wards and departments and
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then obtain signatures for the drugs at ward or department level from a qualified nurse.
Transport and fill Liquid Nitrogen dewars. Due to the potential hazardous nature of this liquid
protective clothing must be worn at all times.
Maintain medical gas cylinder stock levels using pre set stock levels, fill in order documents and pass
to the procurement staff.
Assist the medical gas lorry driver with the removal of empty cylinders from the gas sheds and
replace them with the full cylinders ordered.
Top-up of medical gas cylinders in the wards and departments.
Occasionally deliver or collect packages from locations outwith the Raigmore site e.g. community
pharmacy shop, delivery of parcel to airport or train for a set deadline.
Assists in the weekly stocktake by performing the first count of any stock items that are held in the
hospital basement.
Pick fluid orders for internal wards and departments using a picking list paying particular attention to
the shelf location, name of item, strength, pack-size form and number to be picked, leaving the order
in the appropriate area for checking by a member of stores staff who has passed the checking test.
File paperwork correctly.
Assist the storekeeper in placing stock on the correct shelf location rotating the stock by expiry date if
necessary.
Sign for goods being delivered to pharmacy by external companies e.g. medical gas supply, and in
the absence of the storekeeper e.g. lunchtime, tea breaks. (Occasionally).
When there are staff shortages the post holder will be required to take on other portering duties not
previously assigned to them to cover the absence.
Assist the SATO in training of new portering staff e.g. demonstrating use of pallet truck, supervising
delivery runs until new start is competent.
Complete all documentation associated with the above tasks.
Undertake any other task allocated appropriate to the grade.
7a.
EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY
Uses the following frequently (during each shift)
 Deliver bags and boxes containing orders for wards and departments
 Kick stool
 Step ladder
 Fridges
 Pallet trucks manual and hydraulic
 Flat bed trolley manual push
 Flat bed trolley electric
 Rubbish skips, for general waste, and cytotoxic waste
 Tape guns for parcels
 Cylinder trolleys
Uses the following occasionally
 Telephone.
 Trolleys (small) if assisting in picking dressings.
 Wear protective clothing when filling and transporting Liquid Nitrogen dewars.
 Pallet lifter
7b. SYSTEMS
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Maintains paper filing systems for the retention of requisitions and picking lists.
Delivery register system for signing out packages from the store. Stating who has taken it for delivery
and the time taken. In this way packages and pharmaceutical deliveries can be traced.
8. ASSIGNMENT AND REVIEW OF WORK
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Work is prioritised, allocated and supervised by the SATO.
Work is proceduralised and follows SOPs and timetables.
Advice and guidance is provided by SATO and the Distribution Manager.
The workload in the store is demand led and the post holder has to be flexible in their approach to
the daily workload.
At times of staff shortages the post holder may be required to do additional portering duties.
Personal development is reviewed via PDP&R process carried out by the distribution SATO.
9. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
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The post holder will be able to make a decision as to when to refer a problem or query regarding
distribution issues to a more senior member of distribution staff.
The post holder also makes decisions on the quantity of Medical gas cylinders to be ordered when the
use of medical gas is such that more than usual needs to be ordered.
The post holder will liaise with the SATO and Distribution Manager with regard to the training of new
portering staff and advises them of the trainee’s performance which will aid decisions on the new
porter’s ability to progress from one task to another.
10. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
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Meeting strict deadlines for the delivery of medicines and pharmaceutical sundries to all wards and
departments with in Raigmore Hospital.
Obtaining signatures from busy staff on the wards for controlled drug deliveries.
Responding to urgent requests for goods to be delivered.
Complying with competing demands from different sections of the department for urgent deliveries.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Within own department.
 Face-to-face communication with Raigmore Pharmacy staff on a regular basis when seeking
assistance or passing on information regarding portering issues, ATOs, SATO, Pharmacy
Technicians, Distribution Manager, Procurement Manager and A&C staff, storekeeper, Deputy Chief
Pharmacist, Chief Pharmacist, Pharmacists (all grades)and students.
 Participates in regular meetings held within the Distribution Section.
With wards and departments.
 Face-to-face and occasionally by telephone with nursing staff , receptionists, secretaries and medical
staff.
Others
 Face-to-face with delivery staff on a regular basis.
12. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical
There is frequent requirement to exert intense physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
 A good level of fitness is required to enable the post holder to carry out daily duties, e.g.moving of
heavy pallets up to 700kg during each shift from the loading bay to the pallet space in the store.
 Moving of heavy pallets around the hospital, mainly to the Renal Unit or to the basement approx 300-
700kg (two man job approx once daily)
 Lifting and carrying of Fluid boxes when picking a fluid order, ranging from 10kg to 13.5kg per box
frequently during each shift.
 The post holder will be on their feet all day and frequently have to bend and crouch to assemble fluid
orders during each shift.
Emotional.
Occasional exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
 While delivering goods to wards or departments the post holder may witness distressing situations
e.g. in A&E, Theatre, ITU, SHDU, SCBU, where they may be exposed to upset/distressed relatives ,
terminally ill patients, burns victims.
 Dealing with conflicting demands for urgent delivery of items.
Mental
There is frequent requirement required for the concentration where the work pattern is predictable with
few competing demands.
 Dealing with interruptions while performing a task requiring concentration. Having to change from one
activity to another.
 Pressure of meeting delivery deadlines.
Environmental
Frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions.
 There is occasion for staff to have to deal with verbally aggressive staff, patients or relatives while
delivering drugs and sundries to wards and departments within Raigmore Hospital on a daily basis.
 Store hot in summer, and cold in winter, particularly when doors are open for delivery/dispatch.
 Lack of windows, working in artificial light, poor ventilation.
 Unloading a medical gas delivery in all weather conditions e.g. heavy rain, snow.
 Transporting Liquid Nitrogen dewars, particularly in winter over snow covered or icy ground, or in
heavy rain as there is potential risk of extreme cold burns when filling and carrying the dewars from
the bulk tank.
 Working in a confined space when using the pallet truck, pallet lifter and trolleys.
 Potential exposure to cytotoxic spillage/breakage or other hazardous materials stored in the
Distribution Section.
13. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
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Although there are no formal qualifications required for this post, a reasonable level of education will
be expected, including numeracy and literacy skills.
Training will be given on medical gas cylinder, and manual handling, on delivery routes and
schedules, and general portering duties and Health and Safety.
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I agree that the above Job Description is an accurate reflection of my duties and
responsibilities at the date of signing.
Job Holder’s Signature:
Date:
Manager’s Signature:
Date:
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
POST OF: Pharmacy Porter
BASED: Raigmore Hospital
Attributes
1. Qualifications
Essential
None Required
2. Experience
None Required
REF: SSCLSSRAIGPHAR40
Desirable
Previous experience
working in a hospital
of
Previous experience of
working
within
a
multidisciplinary team
Previous experience of
working in
a
stores
environment
3. Skills/Knowledge
Numeracy and literacy
skills
4. Personal
Characteristics
Reliable
Honest
Self motivating
Flexible
Hard Working
Team player
Accurate
5. Other
Good communication skills
Physically capable of
moderate lifting
Health
and
Awareness
Safety
DATE OF ISSUE: 04/02/08