Lead Pharmacist – Clinical Specialties (IBD)

About the role

Raigmore Hospital’s Pharmacy and Gastroenterology Departments are seeking an experienced Lead Pharmacist to drive medicines optimisation and therapeutic monitoring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This fixed‑term, two‑year secondment offers the chance to shape complex medication pathways, work with biologics, immunomodulators and JAK inhibitors, and develop a pharmacist‑led IBD clinic.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, review and implement IBD treatment and medication pathways.
• Monitor and manage prescribing for IBD patients, including biosimilar switches to improve cost‑efficiency.
• Horizon‑scan for new IBD therapies and contribute to financial planning of treatment pathways.
• Establish and run a pharmacist‑led IBD clinic, reviewing patients, monitoring response and formulating treatment plans.
• Provide expert medication advice to patients, MDT members and primary‑care colleagues.
• Develop shared‑care protocols with primary‑care providers.
• Support audit, quality improvement, clinical governance and research activities.
• Collaborate with the NHS Highland Homecare Team and Gastroenterology Lead Pharmacist to ensure seamless medication delivery.
• Deliver IBD education and training to pharmacy staff.
• Participate in on‑call pharmacy rotas, including weekends and public holidays.

Required profile

• Strong clinical knowledge and experience in gastroenterology or IBD, or equivalent experience with complex medication regimens.
• Qualified and practising independent prescriber.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence prescribing decisions.
• Motivated, proactive and able to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Required skills

• Independent prescriber
• IBD medication management
• Biosimilar switching
• Clinical audit
• Quality improvement

What we offer

• Opportunities for professional development, including RPS Advanced or Consultant frameworks.
• Access to five development days per year and a peer‑support group.
• Support from the Lead Pharmacist for Advanced Practice within NHS Highland.