Before you travel
Check the latest confirmation: address, date, hours, entrance and the person meeting you. Agree the timing of induction and whether that time is included in the paid hours.
Ask which PMR and consultation systems the branch uses. Explain where you need an introduction, including unfamiliar versions of systems you have used before. Check what to bring, such as your personal authenticator, and save a second contact in case the usual person is absent.
On arrival: team and handover
Meet the team and find out who coordinates the day, who answers branch questions and how to contact senior or operational support. Ask how staffing changes will be communicated.
Review booked consultations, deliveries, collection peaks and outstanding work. Identify anything needing early attention and where follow-up actions are recorded.
Complete the induction and responsible pharmacist arrangements applicable to your role. Ask to see the current procedures if they have not been made available.
Check your own authorised access
Test access to the systems you need using the approved local process, while someone is available to help. Report missing permissions before you need them during a consultation.
NHS England Digital says to keep your smartcard passcode private. Use your own authorised access and sign out when appropriate. Borrowing a colleague’s credentials or leaving a session open for others is not a workaround.
Summary Care Record access in community pharmacy has separate eligibility and access arrangements. A PMR login may not give you access to every connected service.
Find the procedures, equipment and contacts
Locate current standard operating procedures, service documents and incident-reporting routes. Ask what to do if a system, document or piece of equipment is unavailable.
Walk through the dispensary workflow, consultation room, storage and relevant equipment. Check how work passes between colleagues and how privacy is maintained for consultations and calls. Use the applicable clinical protocols when providing a service.
- Current procedures and service documents are accessible.
- Required equipment and authorised access are available.
- Team responsibilities and escalation contacts are clear.
- Booked commitments and outstanding work have been handed over.
- Break, cover and closing arrangements are understood.
During the shift
Raise changes in workload, staffing or service availability with the appropriate branch contact. Record agreed actions through the local process and use the pharmacy’s business-continuity arrangements where needed.
A message to a recruitment contact may not reach the person responsible for an immediate operational decision. Use the branch’s contact chain as well. Keep patient details in authorised clinical systems, including when reporting a problem.
Before you leave
Hand over outstanding work and follow-up actions to an identified person. Make clear who is responsible for each action; avoid relying on an unlabelled pile of paperwork or an informal remark.
Submit actual hours and breaks, including agreed changes, through the booking process. Complete approvals while the relevant colleague is available. Sign out and return site items.
Note what would help on a return visit, such as earlier access setup or clearer directions. Keep personal learning notes free of patient identifiers.
Common questions
Can I use another pharmacist’s login if mine does not work?
Arrange authorised access and use the local escalation process. NHS smartcard passcodes are personal and must not be shared; a colleague’s access is not an appropriate substitute.
Does previous experience with a PMR remove the need for induction?
No. The branch may use a different version, workflow or connected service, and you still need to understand local responsibilities and procedures.
What should I record after the shift?
Complete the approved clinical and operational handover, then record hours through the booking process. Keep your personal learning notes free of patient-identifiable information.
Sources and further reading
Check the current official documents for the country and service where you will work.
These guides cover general booking and preparation questions. Read our editorial policy. If a detail needs updating, send us a correction.