How long have you been in your pharmacy role?
I have recently joined the team here at South Tees, however, I have five years of experience working in antimicrobials.
I am looking forward to working together with an enthusiastic, forward thinking antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) pharmacy team dedicated to improving the use of antimicrobials.
What qualifications did you need and where did you gain them?
I obtained my Masters degree at the University of Sunderland in 2014 and completed my pre-registration training the following year.
This was where my motivation towards the antimicrobial specialty began due to an interesting AMS pre-registration project that I presented at the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) conference that year.
During my directorate rotations as a band 6 junior pharmacist, I completed my post graduate clinical diploma in 2017 through the University of Sunderland.
I progressed to an advanced clinical pharmacist in elderly care and learned a lot due to the pro-pharmacy attitude of the MDT and geriatric consultants I worked alongside.
My independent prescribing qualification enables me to review and optimise antimicrobials for patients within the scope of my clinical practice.
Tell us something about your role people might not be aware of…
My role is dedicated to antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control. This involves promoting safe and effective use of antimicrobial agents, reducing the transmission of infections and educating healthcare professionals, patients and the public.
I oversee the development of local strategies to ensure a robust evidence based approach to AMS involving surveillance of antibiotic use, audit and research.
I take part in a number of ward rounds and utilise my expertise to optimise patient treatments.
In the future I hope that our collaborative efforts will improve the culture of antibiotic prescribing, reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infections and minimise the risk of antibiotic resistance for future generations.
What do you like about working at South Tees in pharmacy?
The clinical support, facilities and expertise available to the pharmacy AMS team is at the forefront of patient care.
The organisation recognises the important input and overarching work that the team provides in terms of expertise and providing strategies for improving the way we use antimicrobials.
The recent investments in a new EPMA system has provided an amazing opportunity to work together and develop the software to improve the way we prescribe and influence better review of patients with infections.
South Tees is the major trauma centre for the region and is at the forefront of medical care.
The centre for clinical infection (CCI) provides treatment for HIV, viral hepatitis, general infectious diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME as well as an outpatient antibiotic service. The variety of patients, infections and antimicrobials always keeps the job interesting and pharmacist expertise is a valued part of patient care.