Experience

Rotherham Hospice

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chair of the Board of Trustees

  • Oct 2023 - Present

• Member Board of Trustees

  • Nov 2021 - Present



University of Nottingham

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Honorary Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Policy

  • Aug 2023 - Present



The University of Huddersfield

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Professor of Pharmacy Practice

  • Jan 2015 - Present



General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

• United Kingdom
• Public Safety
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Registered as a Pharmaceutical Chemist

  • Aug 1985 - Present



NHS England

• United Kingdom
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer

  • Sep 2014 - May 2023

  My responsibilities included taking forward the work on medicines optimisation, aimed at improving quality, outcomes and value for patients and the public from their medicines. I also worked to ensure that the capability and capacity within community pharmacy was exploited to the full.I am also a Visiting Professor at the University of Huddersfield.

• Deputy Director of Patient Safety

  • Jun 2012 - Sep 2014



National Patient Safety Agency

• Associate Director of Patient Safety

  • Apr 2010 - Jun 2012

  As an Associate Director of Patient Safety, I was responsible for strategic and operational management for the Patient Safety division, particularly focused on delivering large-scale sustainable change in patient safety improvement within the NHS in England and Wales. My role focused on making patient safety the priority of all NHS leaders and clinicians, creating a will to change and embedding patient safety improvement capability and capacity within the NHS in England and Wales. I was responsible for leading Heads of Patient Safety and Programme Leads within the Patient Safety division to drive improvement programmes which build on the national reporting and learning system.My role included:Setting up and disbanding programme teams against agreed business plans and changing priorities and leading and directing their work ensuring that resources are effectively developed to meet the core business objectives of the NPSA.Supporting the identification and development of teams of local clinicians and managers from across England and Wales experienced in, and passionate about, improving patient safety in their own field.Supporting trusts to implement agreed interventions. Working with the Director of Patient Safety and Medical Director to engage and involve key stakeholders, Department of Health, Welsh Assembly Government, SHAs, Royal Colleges and other professional organisations.Achievements - I led on the NPSA's 10 for 2010 project, which has used improvement methodology to embed change on a large scale within the NHS. The success of this programme is demonstrated through the amount of engagement from frontline truss through discussion forums attendance at workshops and Webinars and the submission of examples of good practice for the purpose of national learning.I was also part of the leadership team that is overseeing the winding down of the National Patient Safety Agency. Show less

• Head of Primary Care, Ambulance and Specialist Programmes

  • Feb 2009 - Mar 2010

  As head of this clinical team I was responsible for developing a programme of clinically focussed outputs working collaboratively with internal and external customers to improve patient safety in key areas in the NHS. I was responsible for a portfolio of work which included specialty specific work and other areas of high priority to the agency. Areas covered by my clinical team included all aspects of primary care, ambulance services, design, human factors, nutrition, cleaning and patient environment (PEAT). I had line management and budget responsibilities for the whole team and their portfolios of work. This included providing effective leadership and development of the clinical team, through planned recruitment, training, performance management and staff / team development. A key aspect of my work, in relation to engaging primary care practitioners and organisations, was the development of professional networks and co-operation both within and outside of the NHS. I also undertook specific corporate projects as required by the NPSA.Working collaboratively with an Associate Director and other Heads of Clinical Teams I was required to input into the annual business plan of the NPSA, which supports the National reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) overall business plan and vision of the future. Show less

• Senior Pharmacist

  • Jul 2006 - Feb 2009

  I worked as a member of the Safe Medication Practice and Medical Specialties team within the Patient Safety Division, to identify and prioritise risks to patient safety and develop national solutions to minimise those risks. I also assisted the NHS to further develop a patient safety culture and develop local systems and methods to improve safe medication practice.I took the lead role in overseeing safe medication practice issues in primary care and mental health.Part of my role was also to establish networks and partnerships with an extensive range of professionals and experts within and external to the NHS, relevant to the safe use of medicines in primary care, thereby acting as the professional clinical adviser and clinical specialist for primary care pharmacy and community medicine. Achievements - I led on the development of a Patient Safety Alert relating to the safe use of anticoagulants which was subsequently issued to the NHS. Nearly all NHS trusts have now implemented the recommendations in this alert. I also led on a number of smaller pieces of work, including a Rapid response Report on the safe use of opioid medicines. I also established myself as a credible expert in medication error through making numerous presentations both nationally and internationally on the subject, publishing research papers and raising the profile of medication safety. Show less



University of Derby

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Lecturer-Practitioner

  • Sep 2002 - Jul 2006

  My main responsibility was to develop and run a new MSc. distance learning course in Primary Care Pharmacy. This course was introduced following a MSc. I undertook looking into the training needs of practice pharmacists, and was aimed at pharmacists working in any aspect of primary care including PCTs. I also had teaching responsibilities on the MSc Clinical Diploma, the BTech for Pharmacy Technicians and pharmacist and nurse supplementary prescribing courses. In addition I supervised MSc projects and had input into the DPharm program run by the University. One day a week of my time was spent working with a local PCT and one day a week with the acute NHS trust in Derby, in order to keep my skills and knowledge base relevant and up to date. Whilst working at the university I also undertook a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, my research being based on medication error. Achievements - I established a new MSc course in primary Care Pharmacy, gained a Post graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning which led to admission to the Higher education Academy and completed my Doctorate in medication error. Show less



Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

• Prescribing Advisor

  • Jun 1999 - Sep 2002

  Prescribing Advisor to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (0.5 FTE) My role at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital was similar to that in primary care, in that I was responsible for looking at prescribing within the Trust. This involved acting as secretary to the Drugs and Therapeutics Committee, representing the Royal Hallamshire hospital on the Northern General Hospital’s Drugs and Therapeutics Committee (eventually combined into STH D&TC), developing maintaining and promoting the hospital formulary and guidelines, audit work, and supporting research projects undertaken by the pharmacy team in the hospital. I was also the pharmacist responsible for the NHS Walk-in Centre including the medication training of all the nurses working there, and for the medication side of the GP CO-OP. The split post provided great benefit to both the PCG/T and to the Secondary Care Trust in that it facilitated a route of communication between the two, allowing progression on such things as a city-wide formulary and other drug related issues. I also supervised some MSc. Project work in the hospital. Show less



Sheffield South West PCG/T

• Prescribing Advisor

  • Jun 1999 - Sep 2002

  This post developed into a much wider remit than prescribing advice. I was responsible for most of the things listed below under the Health Authority prescribing advisor’s post, but at a PCG/T level. The PCT employed seven practice-based pharmacists both on an employed basis and on a sessional basis. I was responsible for co-ordinating and supporting this group and in conjunction with a colleague for devising and running a series of continuing education and training sessions. I was the pharmacy lead for the PCT and oversaw pharmacy and prescribing aspects through the emergence of PCGs and then PCTs. I was responsible for financial aspects of the pharmacy team and the management of the prescribing budget. I was also commissioned to write two modules for the University of Derby for part of a new MSc in Primary Care Pharmacy Show less



General prescribing

• Community Pharmacist Contractor

  • Jun 1987 - Jul 2002

  In June 1987 my wife and I bought two pharmacies in Sheffield and ran them successfully for nearly nine years (the second pharmacy for fifteen years). During that time the turnover was increased three fold. This was achieved by building up an excellent working relationship with the local G.P. practices as well as developing a very loyal customer base. As a partner in the business I was responsible for:- Personnel Accounts Purchasing Stock control Financial management Business development Professional matters Training In February 1997 one branch of the business was sold allowing me time to develop my interest in prescribing issues, and to undertake a MSc. in Community Pharmacy through the University of Derby. I also completed courses at Aston and Leicester Universities on PACT analysis and Formulary Development. Whilst running our Broomhill pharmacy, I was a pre-registration tutor and the premises registered for trainees. I also undertook a certain amount of training of medical students during their attachment to the local surgery, and community pharmacy training of Pharmacy pre-registration students from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. I was a serving contractor member of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) between 1996 and 2002. The sale of our second community pharmacy was completed in July 2002. Show less



Sheffield health

• Health Authority Prescribing Advisor

  • Aug 1998 - Jun 1999

  covered the prescribing adviser's maternity leave at Sheffield Health. My work at Sheffield Health involved all aspects of the prescribing advisers post including:- Co-ordinating a team of ten practice based pharmacists Providing prescribing information to primary care Co-ordinating city wide prescribing initiatives Representing the Health Authority on various committees including Drugs & Therapeutics committees both city wide and in local NHS Trusts Developing a strategic approach to the introduction of new drugs Monitoring drug expenditure at both individual and Health Authority level Developing a prescribing strategy for PCGs Developing an annual prescribing development plan for PCGs Liasing with PCGs and offering prescribing support and strategic advice on prescribing issues Setting prescribing budgets Developing a practice incentive scheme Developing and running a training scheme for prospective practice pharmacists Developing interface links between primary and secondary care Making presentations on prescribing issues to various groups on behalf of the Health Authority Show less



Sheffield Health and rotherham Health Authorities

• Practice Pharmacist

  • Jun 1997 - Jun 1999

  I worked as a practice pharmacist in both Sheffield and Rotherham, whilst remaining an active partner in our pharmacy business. My practice-based work included: - Generic Substitution Therapeutic substitution Formulary development Repeat prescribing review Protocol development Audit I worked as a practice pharmacist in both Sheffield and Rotherham, whilst remaining an active partner in our pharmacy business. My practice-based work included: - Generic Substitution Therapeutic substitution Formulary development Repeat prescribing review Protocol development Audit



Greasby Wirral

• Pharmacy Manager

  • Feb 1988 - Jun 1988

  Responsible for running a busy branch of a thirteen strong pharmacy chain on Merseyside. I reported to the Pharmacy Superintendent and was responsible for all professional matters within the branch. I left to buy my own business in Sheffield. Responsible for running a busy branch of a thirteen strong pharmacy chain on Merseyside. I reported to the Pharmacy Superintendent and was responsible for all professional matters within the branch. I left to buy my own business in Sheffield.



E. G. Collins

• Pharmacy Manager

  • Mar 1986 - Feb 1988

  Responsible for running a branch of a small limited company in Merseyside. I reported directly to the owner of the business and was responsible for the day to day running of the branch including certain buying powers and staff responsibilities. I left to broaden my experience with a larger company. Responsible for running a branch of a small limited company in Merseyside. I reported directly to the owner of the business and was responsible for the day to day running of the branch including certain buying powers and staff responsibilities. I left to broaden my experience with a larger company.



Boots the Chemists Ltd

• Relief Pharmacist

  • Aug 1985 - Mar 1986

  Reporting directly to the Territorial General Manager I provided relief in a number of Boots branches throughout Merseyside covering for managers days off and holidays. I left to develop experience in independent community pharmacy realising that I eventually wanted to own my own pharmacy business. Reporting directly to the Territorial General Manager I provided relief in a number of Boots branches throughout Merseyside covering for managers days off and holidays. I left to develop experience in independent community pharmacy realising that I eventually wanted to own my own pharmacy business.



Wigan

• Pre-Registration Trainee (Boots the Chemist

  • Aug 1984 - Jan 1985