Pharmacy Technician Day
Today, we celebrate the vital role pharmacy technicians play in healthcare. These dedicated professionals work behind the scenes to ensure our patients receive the right medications, safely and on time.
At SWLSTG, we’re proud to have an exceptional team of pharmacy technicians who go above and beyond for our patients. Join us in celebrating three of our exceptional pharmacy technicians: Joy, Sumathi and Jay!
Joy Grange, Principal Pharmacy Technician (Medicines Optimisation)
Q. Can you share a bit about your role as a pharmacy technician and how long you've been with the Trust? What does your day-to-day work involve?
“As a Principal Pharmacy Technician, I manage medicine-related tasks and coordinate our team of pharmacy technicians to ensure all patients receive their medications on time.
“Some of my duties include overseeing medicines reconciliations, providing patient medicine counselling, and checking patients’ own medicines to ensure their safety for re-use in the hospital. I also support wards and teams with any medicine-related queries within my scope of practice.
“As the education programme director for pharmacy technicians and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians, I develop training plans and organise rotations to help them acquire the skills needed for their professional registration."
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy?
“I come from humble beginnings. My first job was as a sales assistant in a pharmacy in Jamaica, where I observed staff advising customers on their medicines. After a detour studying something different at university, I returned to the UK in my andtwenties qualified as a pharmacy technician.
“I think what inspired me most was seeing how we could support the public with information about their medicines, and the trust they place in us to give them the right information. It was also interesting learning about what the different medicines were used for.”
Q. Can you share a memorable experience from your time working here?
“While co-facilitating Recovery College sessions, I was able to work with some amazing students who helped me understand their lived experiences with healthcare professionals. This experience taught me how to better support them with their medicines.”
Q. What do you enjoy most about being part of the pharmacy team?
“I love connecting with our service users and providing them with support during challenging times. I'm also a bit of a geek, so I enjoy conducting pharmacy audits to ensure that medicines are securely stored in clinic rooms.
“Additionally, I value training sessions that help others feel confident in their practice. The most rewarding aspect for me is hearing from patients and carers about how their medicines are helping them improve their lives and witnessing those positive changes firsthand!”
Q. What do you enjoy about working here?
“I love working at SWLSTG because this Trust has helped me realise that I can get involved in so many ways. There are numerous staff networks, and I appreciate how our Trust actively engages employees, encouraging us to have a voice and speak up.
“There are also so many learning and development opportunities, and staff here are kind and friendly. I often reflect on my first day at Springfield Hospital – it was a sunny day surrounded by greenery. I remember feeling happy about my decision to join the team, and I haven’t looked back since!”
Sumi Ananthan, Lead Information Pharmacy Technician
Q. Can you share a bit about your role as a pharmacy technician and how long you've been with the Trust? What does your day-to-day work involve?
“I have been an integral part of the pharmacy team for nearly 20 years. My responsibilities include overseeing medicine management across the wards and supporting the Medicines Information Service.
“I also manage critical pharmacy systems such as ePMA, the Prescription Tracker System (PTS), the Remote Temperature Monitoring System (iMonnit), and our robotic dispensing system, Spenser, ensuring smooth and efficient pharmacy operations.”
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy?
“My passion for understanding how medicine affects the body, along with my interest in complementary therapies, is what initially drew me to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician.
“I am fascinated by the intricacies of how medicines work within the body, which aligns with my practice as an acupuncturist focused on non-medicinal treatments. I see a strong connection between modern medicine and alternative therapies and love integrating both approaches to enhance overall well-being.
“Being a pharmacy technician is incredibly rewarding, as my work directly impacts people's lives, from quality-checking medications to counselling patients.”
Q. Can you share a memorable experience from your time working here?
“One of my most memorable moments was when a patient visited our pharmacy department to personally express her gratitude after I assisted her with a medicines information query. She even gave me a card of appreciation, which I still cherish to this day. Every time I read it, I feel proud to have made a tangible difference in someone's life.”
Q. What do you enjoy most about being part of the pharmacy team?
“I particularly enjoy the teaching and training aspects of my role. As the pharmacy team's go-to person for system-related issues, I love troubleshooting and resolving any problems that arise.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see everything come together and know that my efforts contribute to smoother operations. I’m often playfully referred to as the "Pharmacy SCI" (System Scene Investigator) because of my commitment to solving system issues.
“Beyond that, I enjoy meeting new people, whether they are patients or colleagues. I take pleasure in listening to their insights about life, and being a source of care and compassion gives me a sense of purpose.”
Q. What do you enjoy about working here?
“What I love most about working at SWLSTG is the sense of unity and collaboration. Everyone works toward the same goal - improving patient care and supporting one another.
“The Trust has set a standard in both information technology and patient services, and I am proud to be a part of this progress. We embody the Trust’s core values of respect, openness, compassion, collaboration, and consistency. Being part of this culture, where I feel both valued and supported, brings me immense pride and joy. I am proud to be a SWLSTGite!”
Jay Abedin, Lead Medicines Management Technician
Q. Can you share a bit about your role as a pharmacy technician and how long you've been with the Trust? What does your day-to-day work involve?
“I joined the trust in July 2024 as Lead Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician for community services. In this new role, I focus on enhancing the pharmacy presence within the community and providing essential support for medication management. My goal is to help our service users maximise their treatment potential and achieve positive outcomes.
“My responsibilities include supporting pharmacists, assisting patients with medication management, and collaborating with the multidisciplinary healthcare team. I ensure the timely, safe, and cost-effective supply of medications. I also provide guidance on the electronic prescribing system (ePMA) and FP10 prescribing governance, as well as training for nurses on critical medications like clozapine, lithium, and sodium valproate.”
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in pharmacy?
“My journey into pharmacy was driven by a passion and desire to make a genuine difference in people's lives using medicines as a tool.
“I was fascinated by how medications work and their potential to improve people’s health. I wanted to be part of a field where I could make a difference in patient care and help drive positive change through vision, dialogue, and engagement.”
Q. Can you share a memorable experience from your time working here?
“I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some lovely people within my department and the wider Trust who have given me a warm welcome and have been really accommodating, which is so helpful with the settling in process when you’ve just started at a new place!”
Q. What do you enjoy most about your role in the pharmacy team?
“I enjoy going out in the community and meeting different people, including staff and service users. Its gives me a real variation to my working week. I particularly value the interactions I have with patients, where I can offer reassurance, answer their questions, and help them understand their treatments better.
“I also like working within the pharmacy dispensary at our Springfield Hospital site, where I get to mingle with my fellow colleagues and I’m able to support them in the smooth running of the dispensary which can get very busy at times!
“The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing our services users make the most of their medicines and lead fulfilling, meaningful lives in their communities. It’s inspiring to watch them thrive and hold down jobs while overcoming the stigma associated with mental health illnesses.”
