{
  "abstract": "Context Within the paediatric cardiac unit, the dedicated pharmacy technician plays a key role in enhancing patient care, minimising medication-related waste, and supporting the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Pharmacy is an ever-expansive profession, and the supportive role of a technician provides a benefit in both an operational and clinical context. We present the role of our cardiac pharmacy technicians and the daily elements to their role that has enhanced pharmacy services. 1 2 The cardiac technician’s role can be categorised into three main areas: medicines management, staff training, and collaborative clinical support. A core responsibility is medicines management which involves maintaining accurate and relevant ward stock levels. The technician regularly reviews and adjusts the stock list based on ward needs, by conducting 6-monthly formal reviews. They also ensure timely sourcing of alternative medicines during shortages and enforce expiry checks and stock rotation to minimise waste.Counselling patients prior to discharge is another key task. Having a designated non-rotational technician has allowed for more concise and consistent counselling for all patients. This is especially true for those initiating or adjusting to complex cardiac medications such as diuretics, pain relief, antiplatelets, and antibiotics.The technician supports education for the wider nursing staff in collaboration with the nursing education practitioners. This includes contributing towards induction training, offering refresher sessions in response to medication-related incidents, and sending monthly e-newsletters featuring medication tips. These initiatives have contributed to improved understanding and safer medication practices amongst nursing staff. It has also presented a spotlight on the positive support a pharmacy technician can provide to the wider team.Paediatric cardiac services can be complex, but a dedicated technician allows for improved workflow with consultants, pharmacists and GPs. For example, the technician manages and delivers all prescriptions directly to the clinics, which reduces the need for patients to visit the main dispensary. This approach improves patient experience, fast-tracks urgent prescriptions, and ensures continuity of care post-discharge. Liaising with GPs for ongoing medication supply has created a link between a tertiary centre and primary care, allowing for a smoother transition for patients back to their GPs or local hospitals.From an operational perspective, having a designated cardiac technician has also allowed for closer MDT collaboration with regards to the expansion of the cardiac unit. This included helping define the new ward’s medication stock list with the pharmacist based on predicted patient needs, ensuring the supply of controlled drugs is in accordance with policy, and organising stock storage using electronic dispensing systems. Due to having a relatively novice staffing mix, clear and visible information sheets for nurses were implemented to guide in the safe use of high-risk medications.Conclusion This work demonstrates how technicians enhance medicines optimisation, contribute to safer patient care, and support the clinical needs of the service. Outcomes include increased staff awareness and training, streamlined prescription processes, and improved patient experience. This highlights the value of embedding pharmacy technicians within specialist clinical teams.References Chan C, Woo R, Seto W, Pong S, Gilhooly T, Russell J. Medication reconciliation in pediatric cardiology performed by a pharmacy technician: a prospective cohort comparison study. Can J Hosp Pharm 2015;68(1):8–15.Iheanacho CO, Adeyeri O, Eze UIH. Evolving role of pharmacy technicians in pharmaceutical care services: Involvement in counselling and medication reviews. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy 2022;5:100113.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Sadhna Sharma"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Anisa Mala"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Richard Bishop"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P21 Day in the life: a specialist pharmacy technician in cardiac services",
  "uid": "2a564ad8-ae9b-5b8d-945c-6a8259c0a4b1"
}