Hospital pharmacy Pre-registration Applications (Pharmalife) 2017/2018

I'm not too sure to be honest I guess its possible but I dont remember getting an interview over the weekend

How is it possible to still feel this much anxiety even though I've finally submitted the application. Urgh

Hey guys!

I am so nervous as well ;( Next week is NES assesment ...
I want it to be over srlsy haha

I applied to Newcastle, Sunderland, Manchester and Pennine I wish you guys all good luck! We will end up somewhere!

Did you meet many NES providers?

Also pennine acute or pennine care? Mind if I ask where in MCR? :P

I have 6-7 places on NES. But will see how the assesment goes. Its nerve wrecking
No bother, I applied for Central Trust in MCR and Acute Pennine Trust Yourself?

Care to elaborate on your experience with Aamer?

it kinda ties in with my comment about not being to clever but when I had my interview, a certain class of drugs had just come out (wont reveal too much due to id'ing issues). anyways, the head of MI at the trust hadnt heard of the drug (nor did the other pharmacists) despite it being in community for a few months. I explained about it (which wasnt too bad as I mentioned all major things). then aamer questioned me about how would I persuade a patient to take it, which I tried doing, then he went b**s**t crazy and started creating a massive fuss (think toddler throwing tantrum) about not wanting to take it, why should he have to go to the toilet (and some other stuff) and his colleagues looked shocked at him. in the end, his colleagues apologised on his behalf and he mentioned that his main area of interest is duiretics and that there was some personal interest in that area as well. safe to say i failed the interview due to other aspects (namely freezing and not being able to answer anything till 1-2 minutes after a question was asked) but that part was definately a surprise (full credit though, he did throw a good tantrum)

what sort of question did he ask? and from which uni are you? *

Do I detect a Geordie I applied to CMFT too.I didn't meet any NES provider but I did communicate via email - therefore I got no summer placements in Scotland, but still attending PRPS bc why not haha

it was so much a question per se, it was a barrage of question about why he should take a medicine which acts like a diuretic and how to persuade him. the more i answer the more questions / agitated he got (if you have worked in a pharmacy, think refusing an addict a controlled drug, cocodamol/sleeping tablets, or not being able to dispense a prescription due to it not being legal or allowed on the nhs and it being out of hours (and a 3-6 hour wait in a walk-in centre).

I wont say what uni I went to (incase someone I know may be reading this thread - -i know a few pharmacists who still use tsr) but I will say going to a low ranked school doesnt have an influence on where you get interviewed and jobs. I know people with 2:1s from herts going to addenbrookes and radcliff in oxford and 2:1s from medway going to GOSH & royal free. kingston has a good track record as well.

Haha why Geordie? Oh great! Do you know anything about interview? I dont know anyone who attended it So are you o anyones list in Scotland?

I have also applied to CMFT. Any idea when they might contact applicants or what their interview involves?

Is a 2:1 the minimum? Will hospitals accept a 2:2 or will they scrap you altogether? The people you know going to GOSH, why specialize so early? Would GOSH be very competitive?

top teaching hospitals require a 2:1 minimum. a lot of other hospitals are ok with a 2:2 (check with hospitals).

in terms of specialist hospitals at pre-reg, your not actually specialising weirdly enough. yes it is a specialist hospital but you get kicked out after your pre-reg as specialist pharmacists are usually band 7 and 8x. pre-reg is band 5 and most people want you to do band 6 before 7 which means going to a trust/ hospital which isnt so specialised.
GOSH is competitive and apparently there were a lot of questions about using unlicensed medication and about formulations so make sure you brush up pharmaceutics legislative stuff (as well as clinical)

Oh right I understand, thank you for clarifying. Is there a chance GOSH will keep you on as a band 6? As if not, would I be at a disadvantage trying to obtain band 6 jobs because you'd have only done paeds? And thanks for your answers btw.

as far as I am aware, GOSH doesnt do band 6 as you need to spend time as a band 6 and 7 to specialise. it doesnt keep you at a disadvantage when applying elsewhere for band 6. and no problem, im always happy to help people wherever I can (which is the main reason community grinds my gears in the sense that it is literally just dispense dispense dispense and most people dont utilise your clinical knowledge / think your nothing more than a shopkeeper and some people query why pharmacists need a degree. Then again, it varies location to location. I will say however someone asked me during my pre-reg if masters degree in pharmacy is a higher level than a levels (:|)

Oh right I understand, thank you for clarifying. Is there a chance GOSH will keep you on as a band 6? As if not, would I be at a disadvantage trying to obtain band 6 jobs because you'd have only done paeds? And thanks for your answers btw.

Just to clarify GOSH do have a band 6 programme, they have approx 10-12 rotational residents (band 6) who cover different areas and provide their on call residency service.

Most GOSH pre-regs go on to non-paeds jobs (as not all 7 can be kept on every year and there arent many other specialist paeds hospitals), some go on to work in other paeds hospitals. I also know of people who've gone on to non-paeds jobs after a band 6 job at GOSH.