A consultant pharmacist specialising in cardiology has joined the NHS Golden Jubilee.

Paul Forsyth will work with the multi-disciplinary cardiology team at the national specialist centre at Clydebank’s Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.

The post is the first of its kind in the field of cardiology in Scotland and is only the third consultant pharmacist post in the entire country.

Mr Forsyth, who has 20 years’ experience working with heart patients, said one of the main priorities of his new role is to ensure heart patients get the right medicine, at the right time:

“NHS Golden Jubilee plays a key role in the initial treatment of heart disease patients, who often return to their local health board for continued care.

“Medications are a crucial part of this journey and efforts are being made to optimise treatment by ensuring patients receive the right medicine in the right place, at the right time.

“A key focus is expanding the role of pharmacists in advanced practice, including outpatient cardiology clinics and post-discharge support, to improve efficiency of our patient journey.

“Previous experience with early supported discharge clinics has shown that pharmacist-led interventions can help patients leave the hospital sooner while maintaining effective follow-up care.”

NHS Golden Jubilee is home to one of the largest heart and chest centres in the UK.

Not only does the board host the West of Scotland regional heart and lung centre, it is also the only hospital in Scotland carrying out heart transplants.

In the new consultant pharmacist role, Mr Forsyth will work across the region to provide professional leadership and mentoring for cardiology lead pharmacists, as well as lead and coordinate current and future services to improve cardiology patient outcomes.

There will also be a focus on research opportunities, as well as medicines optimisation, as an integral part of the NHS Golden Jubilee heart services.

Director of Pharmacy at the board, Laura Fulton, said integrating pharmacy teams more closely into cardiology services will optimise treatment pathways, improve efficiency and ensure patients receive the best possible care at every stage of their journey:

“Paul's extensive experience in cardiology, combined with his enthusiasm for the profession and dedication to workforce development, will be invaluable not only to our pharmacy team, but also in supporting patient care across the West of Scotland.

“As the role of pharmacists continues to expand, their advanced knowledge and skills are being increasingly utilised to enhance patient outcomes.”

Having worked with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since 2016 as a heart failure pharmacist and the lead pharmacist for cardiology, Paul Forsyth was seconded to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) to progress advance practice for pharmacists in Scotland.

He has also had multiple research publications published in the field of cardiac disease and is a strong advocate for the profession and its role in the wider healthcare system.

Mark McGregor, NHS Golden Jubilee’s Medical Director, said he is excited to see the continued success of the consultant pharmacist role and the positive impact it will have on patient care in years to come:

“As healthcare continues to evolve, the role of consultant pharmacists is expanding to meet the growing complexities of medication management within hospitals.”

The Consultant Pharmacist posts are approved by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland, with accreditation from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society – the professional leadership body for pharmacists.

Jennifer Laskey was the first pharmacist in Scotland to be appointed to such a role.

She now works with the West of Scotland cancer network, focusing on driving improvements in outcomes and survival rates.

 

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