I want to share with readers about my cross-sector hospital placement. It proved to be an enlightening journey, rich with educational opportunities that broadened my understanding of clinical pharmacy practice and afforded me the chance to discern practical differences between hospital and community pharmacy (where I am currently training), such as access to patient records.
Shadowing hospital pharmacists and engaging in clinical duties allowed me to observe the intricate workings of the multidisciplinary team, highlighting pharmacists’ indispensable contributions to patient safety and medication outcomes. Managing specialist medications and complex clinical cases demanded agile thinking and collaboration with fellow healthcare professionals, enriching my understanding of the multifaceted nature of hospital pharmacy practice.
The collaborative ethics ingrained within hospital pharmacy underscored the significance of interdisciplinary teamwork. Working alongside other healthcare professionals, I witnessed the impact of collaborative care on patient outcomes.
Observing pharmacists in both primary and secondary care settings underscored the critical importance of adaptability and resilience in navigating the dynamic landscape of healthcare delivery. Encountering unfamiliar specialist medications and confronting complex clinical scenarios demanded not only clinical acumen but also the ability to remain agile in the face of uncertainty. This experience honed my capacity for quick decision-making and reinforced the significance of continuous learning and professional development in the ever-evolving field of pharmacy practice.
Moreover, my exposure to diverse patient populations within the hospital setting deepened my appreciation for the role of cultural competency in healthcare delivery. Interacting with patients from varied backgrounds highlighted the importance of sensitivity and empathy in addressing their unique healthcare needs, reinforcing my commitment to fostering inclusive practices that prioritise holistic wellbeing.
Reflecting on my journey, cross-sector placements have several clear benefits to offer:
- Developing a broader skillset will make it easier to adapt to different roles and spheres of practice in the future;
- Exposure to various sectors fosters collaboration and communication skills, that will be helpful when working in multidisciplinary teams;
- Diversified training affords greater career flexibility, as pharmacists can pursue opportunities in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industry, academia, and research;
- Experiencing different practice environments encourages innovation and improved problem-solving skills.
Cross-sector training promotes continuous professional development, resilience to change and overall improved patient care. Currently, pharmacy undergraduate training offers some form of multi-sector placement, but this is not uniform across universities. The existing Oriel process, designed to match prospective trainee pharmacists with training sites, has several limitations. Trainees may not secure placements in their preferred sites or sectors, potentially leading to dissonance between their aspirations and actual placements, and a lack of motivation during the training year. However, there is an opportunity for improvement through cross-placement initiatives, fostering collaboration among training providers to establish frameworks for seamlessly transitioning trainees across multiple placement sites.
By leveraging cross-sector training initiatives from 2026/2027 and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we can cultivate a pharmacy profession defined by competence and expertise, transcending organisational boundaries to deliver accessible, quality care to all patients.
Uyiosa Igbinadolor is a foundation pharmacist at Bedminster Pharmacy, Bristol
