Spotlight on Talent – Rahul Kumar

Studied:- Level 3 Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Standard
Progression: Drug Administration Pharmacy Technician at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham

One of Rahul Kumar’s favourite things about his Apprenticeship training was learning from all his colleagues at Newbridge Pharmacy in Wolverhampton.  The insights he gained from the other apprentices he studied with at Walsall College were also beneficial and inspiring.

“I’d often talk with the pharmacists at Newbridge Pharmacy about my training there and what I was learning in college,” said Rahul.  “They’d encourage me to look at extra study resources and read more about the topics I was interested in.  This helped me tie up my classroom learning with the practical work experience.”

As many of his apprentice classmates were based in hospitals, Rahul also gained many insights into this working environment and how it compared to his own workplace.  They resulted in him working as a qualified pharmacy technician in the dispensary at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Since then, his industry knowledge and awareness of pharmacy-based patient support services within a hospital has grown rapidly.

“I started out at the hospital dispensing medicine to in-patients, accuracy checking prescriptions and preparing different ones,” said Rahul.

“While this was similar to my role at the community pharmacy, I was working with many other colleagues from across the hospital.  This opened up my eyes to other roles I could move across or move up to.”

A new career opportunity is now underway for Rahul.

He has just become a ward-based drug administration technician.  This will see him interacting more closely with in-patients while overseeing the administration of their medicine.  He will also continue to monitor their drug histories.

“My new role is good for my development and further progression,” said Rahul.  “The learning never stops as a pharmacy professional.  This is a brilliant way for me to keep up with the latest industry practices and provide the best possible patient support.

“It’s the reason a career in pharmacy appealed to me in the first place.”

He added: “I would recommend an Apprenticeship because it increases your employability long term.  You’re immediately gaining the skills and knowledge to carry out a role in the workplace.  Plus, this experience helps you move into different industry areas and progress.”