Chair
Claudia Nixon
Critical care & theatres pharmacist
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association
Our surgery pharmacy committee shares expertise via learning events and by delivering ongoing education for pharmacy professionals at all stages of practice and speciality.
The Surgery & Theatres pharmacy community has close links with organisations including the Royal College of Anaesthetists to share expertise across disciplines, and raise the profile of surgery and theatre pharmacy.
In 2016, the Surgery & Theatres pharmacy committee wrote and published the Handbook of Perioperative Medicines, and later produced an updated edition in 2019. The Handbook has received wide acclaim and is building a reputation as an essential resource for pharmacy and medical practitioners delivering perioperative care.
The Handbook is endorsed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Preoperative Association. It is also supported by the Centre for Perioperative Care (Royal College of Anaesthetists).
Join the Surgery & Theatres pharmacy community for less than £3 per week to play your role in influencing the future of surgery pharmacy.
Members of our Surgery & Theatres pharmacy committee lead the production of the Handbook of Perioperative Medicines, which is accessed by thousands of surgeons, anaesthetists and pharmacists across the world, and is supported by organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Centre for Perioperative Care (Royal College of Anaesthetists).
The UKCPA Surgery & Theatres pharmacy committee contributed their expertise to the Centre for Perioperative Care (Royal College of Anaesthetists) guideline on the perioperative care of people with diabetes undergoing surgery.
A surgical pharmacist or operating room pharmacist is a pharmacy professional who specialises in managing medication for patients undergoing surgery, either during the perioperative, operative or postoperative period. Surgical pharmacists work alongside surgeons and anaesthetists, playing a vital role in supporting patient outcomes. Any clinical pharmacist with an interest in the field is welcome to join the UKCPA Surgery & Theatre pharmacy community.
To become a surgical pharmacist, you’ll need an MPharm (Master of Pharmacy) degree, which requires four years of full-time study. You can join UKCPA at this stage as a student pharmacist for free, and retain your free membership once you’ve graduated and are working as a trainee pharmacist.
Following 12 months of practice, you can apply to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), after which time you’ll be a qualified pharmacist. Then, you can begin to gain specific experience in surgery pharmacy, spending time working alongside operating room pharmacists and continuing with more specialised professional development and experience.
As a qualified pharmacist, you can join UKCPA’s Surgery & Theatre pharmacy community for less than £3 a week. As a member, you can access education, training, resources and support from fellow pharmaceutical professionals as you develop your specialism in surgery pharmacy.
The role of a surgical pharmacist is crucial for patients undergoing surgery, and it can be an incredibly varied position, with responsibilities including:
A surgical pharmacist is generally based in a hospital setting, but may also work with an ambulance or other emergency care service, or closely with intensive care or critical care environments. Within a hospital, an operating room pharmacist may work within:
Every pharmacist begins their career as a student pharmacist, then as a trainee pharmacist before they are fully qualified. Once qualified, gaining experience in surgery and theatre pharmacy can help you to work towards becoming a surgical pharmacist in the future.
You may need to undertake further training or experience to specialise, but you could then work as an operating room pharmacist, train other surgical pharmacists, become a prescriber, or work in research.
Access advice, guidance and expert-led education and training to further your professional development when you join the UKCPA Surgery & Theatre pharmacy community for less than £3 a week.
Harpal Bhachu - Advanced anticoagulation pharmacist
Join UKCPA for less than £3 a week and access all our communities, education and resources.
