Dispenser & Prescriptions Administrator

This is a hybrid role working across two teams, our dispensary and our prescriptions team. You'll move between the two as needed, working closely with both teams and the wider practice to keep our dispensing and prescription service running smoothly and safely. A key part of the role is ensuring repeat prescriptions and medicines are handled accurately and on time, and being a helpful first point of contact when patients, carers, pharmacies or other healthcare professionals get in touch about medication. Please note: a full UK driving licence is essential for this role, as you'll travel between our sites and occasionally deliver medications to our branch surgery in Blean.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a high-quality dispensing and prescription administration service that supports clinicians and the wider practice team.
• Play a key role in the safe, accurate and timely management of repeat prescriptions and the dispensing of medicines.
• Work flexibly across both dispensing and prescriptions, following clinical direction and protocols.
• Act as a main point of contact for medication-related enquiries, communicating sensitively and professionally with patients, carers, pharmacies and other healthcare professionals.
• Support the management of patients' medication needs, including identifying those due for review or monitoring.
• Help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the dispensary and prescriptions team. Accurately dispense acute and repeat prescriptions as authorised by GPs and prescribing clinicians, checking all medicines and appliances against the prescription and querying any concerns with the authorising or duty doctor before dispensing.
• Enter and maintain accurate medication records on EMIS, ensuring patient records are kept up to date in line with Practice procedures.
• Identify patients due for medication reviews, chronic disease monitoring or drug monitoring checks, and support the coordination of this work with clinical staff.
• Act as a primary point of contact for medication-related enquiries, liaising professionally and sensitively with patients, carers, community pharmacies and healthcare professionals.
• Endorse, collate and submit prescription forms to the PPD in accordance with current guidelines, and promptly report any FP10 returns or PPA feedback to the Dispensary Manager.
• Contribute to the effective management of dispensary stock, including ordering, checking deliveries, rotating stock, removing out-of-date items, and ensuring all medicines are stored appropriately and in line with manufacturer guidance.
• Ensure refrigerated medicines are stored at the correct temperature and maintain an accurate temperature control logbook.
• Collect and record prescription charges and private fees accurately, ensuring all financial transactions are handled and documented in accordance with Practice policy.
• Maintain confidentiality, data protection and information governance standards at all times.
• Undertake general duties consistent with the role, including answering telephone calls, inputting data and supporting the wider team, to contribute to the effective running of the service.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within an NHS or primary care setting.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a dispensary, community pharmacy or prescriptions role.
• Knowledge of dispensary procedures, controlled drugs and stock management.
• Familiarity with clinical systems such as EMIS and Docman.
• Understanding of repeat prescription processes and medication reviews.

Qualifications Desirable

• Level 2 Support Staff Course for Dispensing Assistants

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Experience of working within an NHS or primary care setting.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a dispensary, community pharmacy or prescriptions role.
• Knowledge of dispensary procedures, controlled drugs and stock management.
• Familiarity with clinical systems such as EMIS and Docman.
• Understanding of repeat prescription processes and medication reviews.

Northgate Medical Practice is one of the largest GP practices in Canterbury, caring for over 21,000 patients across three sites in Northgate, Blean and Chartham. Our multidisciplinary team of GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists and primary care nurses provides a broad range of general practice services and specialist clinics. Patients can access our services at our accessible sites, with dispensing available at our Chartham surgery and through our online systems for booking appointments, remote consultations and ordering prescriptions. We are committed to providing the highest quality care for our registered patients and for those referred into our clinics. As an approved training practice, we regularly host GP registrars as well as nursing, physiotherapy and Kent & Medway medical students.