Technicians the ‘beating heart’ of pharmacy
You’ve probably never met one but if you’ve ever been to hospital then chances are they’ve helped keep you alive and well.
October 15 is National Pharmacy Technician Day, where we thank these unseen workers for the invaluable support and contributions they make to our pharmacy departments.
Westmead Hospital pharmacy director David Ng said pharmacy technicians are the “beating heart” of the department, providing vital support to the pharmacists and patients.
“The role of a hospital pharmacy technician is fast paced and keeps you busy. One day is never the same as the next so it keeps you on your toes,” David said.
“Delivering precise technical services is an essential part of the role of our pharmacy technicians to enable pharmacists to focus on frontline patient-centred care.
“While the pharmacist ensures that patients are getting the correct medications and educated about their treatments, pharmacy technicians support this vital role by maintaining medication supplies across the hospital, helping consumers manage their prescriptions in the outpatient clinics, and working in specialised sterile suites preparing medications, IV infusions and cancer treatments under controlled conditions.”
Westmead Hospital’s pharmacy is one of the state’s largest and diverse tertiary pharmacies providing frontline clinical care to our patients in the wards, outpatient clinics, drug health and Parramatta Community Health.
The department supports quality use of medicines through medication dispensing, logistics, procurement, consumer education, therapeutic advice and the manufacture of highly-specialised medicines including sterile medications and cancer treatments.
For further information about National Pharmacy Technician Day, click here.
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