Rachel O'Kelly

· Supervising a high-volume compounding unit, overseeing the preparation and distribution of chemotherapy

· Managing pharmacy staff in the aseptic compounding unit and at ward level

· Supporting the development of hospital pharmacy cancer services: inpatient service, aseptic unit, clinical trial unit and compassionate programs

· Collaborating with medical oncologists to develop individualised patient care plans and to ensure the safe and effective use of medications

· Developing and implementing protocols for the safe handling of hazardous and cytotoxic drugs

· Establishing quality assurance measures for the oncology pharmacy and conducting regular audits

· Participating in clinical research and contributing to studies involving oncology and haematology medications. I led a retrospective study on the effectiveness of letermovir prescribing on the rate of cytomegalovirus reactivation following allogeneic stem cell transplantation at St James’s Hospital.

· Supporting the training and development of oncology/haematology pharmacists

· Delivering educational/training programs for healthcare staff on oncology and haematology pharmacotherapy

· Participating in hospital committees, working groups and ward rounds.

· Prepared pharmacy documentation required for dispensing and compounding of investigational medicinal products (IMPs) in cancer clinical trials

· Adhered to procedures to ensure the safe recording, storage, prescribing, dispensing, administration, dispatch, and destruction of IMPs

· Coordinated, collaborated and provided expertise to clinical trial nurses in support of clinical investigational drug trial

· Participated in discussions involved in the running of clinical trials: pre-site selection visits, validation visits, site initiation visits, pharmacy monitoring visits and close out visits

· Completed rotations in acute medicine, oncology, surgery, and stroke services

· Providing advice to healthcare professionals on the correct and economic use of drugs and medicines

· Developed the St James’s Hospital Stroke guideline

· Assisted in the medicines information unit, responding to queries in a timely manner.

· Completed rotations in endocrinology, orthopedics, vascular surgery, neurology, respiratory and geriatric- medicine

· Provided prescription monitoring, medicines reconciliation and patient counselling, ensuring safety and appropriateness of patient medication

· Completed a clinical audit on the peri-operative management of medications